Step 1: Identify the number of decimal places

The decimal 23.685 has 3 decimal places.

Step 2: Multiply by the appropriate power of 10

Multiply by 10³ = 1000 to eliminate the decimal point.

23.685 × 1000 = 23685

Step 3: Write as a fraction

Step 4: Simplify the fraction

Find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of 23685 and 1000.

GCD(23685, 1000) = 5

Divide both the numerator and denominator by the GCD: