72.5 as a fraction
Understand the Problem
The question is asking how to convert the decimal number 72.5 into a fraction. This involves identifying the decimal part and expressing it over a denominator to simplify it into a proper fraction.
Answer
$\frac{145}{2}$
Answer for screen readers
The decimal number 72.5 can be converted to the fraction $\frac{145}{2}$.
Steps to Solve
- Identify the whole number and decimal part
The number 72.5 has a whole part (72) and a decimal part (0.5).
- Convert the decimal part to a fraction
To convert the decimal part (0.5) into a fraction, we recognize that 0.5 can be represented as $\frac{5}{10}$.
- Simplify the fraction
Now, simplify $\frac{5}{10}$ by dividing both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor, which is 5:
$$ \frac{5 \div 5}{10 \div 5} = \frac{1}{2} $$
- Combine the whole number and the fraction
Now, combine the whole number (72) with the simplified fraction ($\frac{1}{2}$). This is represented as:
$$ 72 \frac{1}{2} $$
Alternatively, in improper fraction form, we convert it by multiplying the whole number by the denominator and adding the numerator:
$$ 72 \times 2 + 1 = 144 + 1 = 145 $$
So, the improper fraction is $\frac{145}{2}$.
The decimal number 72.5 can be converted to the fraction $\frac{145}{2}$.
More Information
Converting decimals to fractions is a useful skill in math, particularly in topics involving rational numbers. Understanding this process can help in simplifying complex calculations and in real-life applications such as finance and measurements.
Tips
- Forgetting to simplify the fractional part, leading to an incorrect final answer.
- Misrepresenting the combination of the whole number and fractional part.
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