Step 1:
The first step to converting 17.973431396464 to a fraction is to re-write 17.973431396464 in the form p/q where p and q are both positive integers. To start with, 17.973431396464 can be written as simply 17.973431396464/1 to technically be written as a fraction.
Step 2:
Next, we will count the number of fractional digits after the decimal point in 17.973431396464, which in this case is 12. For however many digits after the decimal point there are, we will multiply the numerator and denominator of 17.973431396464/1 each by 10 to the power of that many digits. So, in this case, we will multiply the numerator and denominator of 17.973431396464/1 each by 1000000000000:
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 17.973431396464 as a fraction:
7441/414 / 1