How do you form a fraction that is equivalent to another?

Answer 1

You either multiply or divide both the numerator (top number) and the denominator (bottom number) by the same number.

For example, 2/4: Both numbers can be divided evenly by 2; 2 divided by 2 equals 1, 4 divided by 2 equals 2, so 2/4 can be 'reduced' to 1/2, which is an 'equivalent fraction'.

Now look at 7/8: You can multiply both numbers by any number you wish, so long as it is the same number for both; 7 times 3equals 21, 8 times 3 equals 24, so an equivalent fraction for 7/8 is 21/24.

Reducing a fraction to lowest terms is simply finding an equivalent fraction in which the numerator and denominator can no longer both be divided by the same number evenly.