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It is possible to use any common factor to simplify a fraction, and repeating the procedure until the only common factor is 1. However, using the GCF requires the process only once.

Why simplify fractions? It means that calculations can proceed with smaller numbers.

For example,

756/1134 * 1767/2356 is a pretty daunting calculation.

But GCF(756, 1134) = 378 so 756/1134 = 2/3,

and GCF(1767, 2356) = 589 so 1767/2356 = 3/4.

So the multiplication becomes 2/3 * 3/4 = 2/4 = 1/2.

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11y ago

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