Step 1:
The first step to converting 12972.261472287 to a fraction is to re-write 12972.261472287 in the form p/q where p and q are both positive integers. To start with, 12972.261472287 can be written as simply 12972.261472287/1 to technically be written as a fraction.
Step 2:
Next, we will count the number of fractional digits after the decimal point in 12972.261472287, which in this case is 9. For however many digits after the decimal point there are, we will multiply the numerator and denominator of 12972.261472287/1 each by 10 to the power of that many digits. So, in this case, we will multiply the numerator and denominator of 12972.261472287/1 each by 1000000000:
Step 3:
Now the last step is to simplify the fraction (if possible) by finding similar factors and cancelling them out, which leads to the following answer for 12972.261472287 as a fraction:
51889/4 / 1