Step 1:
The first step to converting 542.42517734472 to a fraction is to re-write 542.42517734472 in the form p/q where p and q are both positive integers. To start with, 542.42517734472 can be written as simply 542.42517734472/1 to technically be written as a fraction.
Step 2:
Next, we will count the number of fractional digits after the decimal point in 542.42517734472, which in this case is 11. For however many digits after the decimal point there are, we will multiply the numerator and denominator of 542.42517734472/1 each by 10 to the power of that many digits. So, in this case, we will multiply the numerator and denominator of 542.42517734472/1 each by 100000000000:
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 542.42517734472 as a fraction:
21697/40 / 1