Step 1:
The first step to converting 987.17971 to a fraction is to re-write 987.17971 in the form p/q where p and q are both positive integers. To start with, 987.17971 can be written as simply 987.17971/1 to technically be written as a fraction.
Step 2:
Next, we will count the number of fractional digits after the decimal point in 987.17971, which in this case is 5. For however many digits after the decimal point there are, we will multiply the numerator and denominator of 987.17971/1 each by 10 to the power of that many digits. So, in this case, we will multiply the numerator and denominator of 987.17971/1 each by 100000:
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 987.17971 as a fraction:
38500/39 / 1