Why is it when you reduce fractions you need to find the greatest common factor?

Anonymous

∙ 14y ago

Updated: 8/18/2019

The greatest common factor is the largest number that is evenly divisible by both numbers, so if you divide both numerator and denominator by GCF, the numerator and denominator will be the smallest integers possible, and still be an equivalent fraction.

Wiki User

∙ 14y ago

What else can I help you with?

Where is greatest common factor use?

The greatest common factor is used to reduce fractions.

What do you use greatest common factor for?

To reduce fractions

When is greatest common factor used?

When you want to reduce fractions.

Why do you find greatest common factor?

It helps to reduce fractions.

Why do you have to find the greatest common factor?

It helps to reduce fractions.

When do you need to use the greatest common factor?

When you need to reduce fractions.

Why is greatest common factor important?

In order to reduce fractions to their lowest terms

What are some occasions that people would want to find the greatest common factor of a number?

When they are trying to reduce fractions.

When would it be useful to know the common factors or the greatest common factor of two or more numbers?

When you need to reduce fractions to their simplest form.

Why do you need to learn factoring in Algebra?

You need to learn it, so you can learn Greatest Common Factor, which you need to reduce fractions.

What does greatest common factor do?

The GCF is the largest number common to a given set of two or more numbers. Finding the GCF helps you to reduce fractions.

How do you use greatest common factor with addition and subtraction of fractions?

You don't. You use the GCF to reduce the answer once the addition or subtraction is complete.