DecimalToFraction [Decimal ; MaxDemominator]

Transforms a decimal number to a fractional one using a While statement.

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Mark D Kerr - Show more from this author
Discovery Reef Design & Consulting

Sample input:

DecimalToFraction ( 3.812 ; 64 )

Sample output:

3-13/16

Function definition: (Copy & paste into FileMaker's Edit Custom Function window)

While ( 
[
Integer = Case ( Int ( Decimal ) = 0  ; "" ; Int ( Decimal ) & "-" ) ;
Remainder = Mod ( Decimal ; 1 ) ;
Counter = 1 ;
Varies = "" ;
MaxVaries = "" ;
Result = "" 
] ;

Case ( 
Varies = .5 ; 0 ;     //.5 is an exact match...
Counter ≥ MaxDenominator ; 0 ;
1 ) ;

[ 
Counter = Counter + 1 ;

Eval = Mod ( Remainder * Counter ; 1 ) ;
Varies = Case ( Eval > .5 ; Eval - .5 ; .5 - Eval ) ;
MaxVaries = Case ( Varies > MaxVaries ; Varies ; MaxVaries ) ;

Result = Case ( MaxVaries = Varies ; Counter ; Result ) 
] ;

Integer & Round ( Result * Remainder ; 0 ) & "/" & Result
)

An updated approach to an old task, uses a While statement to loop through a range of denominators, delivering the nearest match to convert the decimal number. Correctly rounds those odd decimal numbers for 32nd, 64th and higher denominators.

Comments

		Brian Dunning, BrianDunning.com Apr 7, 2020
It's important to point out that I loved the program I had for this on my HP calculators in the early 1980s

Note: these functions are not guaranteed or supported by BrianDunning.com. Please contact the individual developer with any questions or problems.

DecimalToFraction [Decimal ; MaxDemominator]

Comments

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