Step 1: Identify the number of decimal places

The decimal 42.538976 has 6 decimal places.

Step 2: Multiply by the appropriate power of 10

Multiply by 10⁶ = 1000000 to eliminate the decimal point.

42.538976 × 1000000 = 42538976

Step 3: Write as a fraction

Step 4: Simplify the fraction

Find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of 42538976 and 1000000.

GCD(42538976, 1000000) = 32

Divide both the numerator and denominator by the GCD: