Step 1: Identify the number of decimal places

The decimal 42.686512 has 6 decimal places.

Step 2: Multiply by the appropriate power of 10

Multiply by 10⁶ = 1000000 to eliminate the decimal point.

42.686512 × 1000000 = 42686512

Step 3: Write as a fraction

Step 4: Simplify the fraction

Find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of 42686512 and 1000000.

GCD(42686512, 1000000) = 16

Divide both the numerator and denominator by the GCD: