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Simplify means reduce the fraction by dividing the numerator and denominator by any common factor (other than 1) until the only common factor of the numerator and denominator is 1.

A proper fraction has the numerator less than the denominator, so if the resultant fraction has a numerator greater than the denominator it is an improper fraction and must be converted to a mixed number by dividing the numerator by the denominator to give a whole number (quotient) and a remainder, which is then placed alongside the whole number over the original denominator.

eg simplify and write as a proper fraction 156/42
156/42 = (156÷2)/(42÷2) [since 2 is a common factor of 156 and 42]
= 78/21
= (78÷3)/(21÷3) [since 3 is a common factor of 78 and 21]
= 26/7
= 35/7 [since 26 ÷ 7 = 3 remainder 5]

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12y ago

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