What To Do:
To make a fraction into the simplest form, you must divide both the numerator and the denominator by the same number to make a fraction into simplest form.
The number that you need to use as a divisor is the Greatest Common Factor of the numerator and denominator.
For example:
3/6 can be reduced to 1/3 because both the numerator and the denominator are divisible by 3.
2/7 for example, can not be reduced because 2 and 7 do not share a common multiple to divide by.
Remember, all numbers can not be reduced to simplest form. In the case that they can, do the same thing to the top and the bottom.
More Examples:
4/8 can be reduced to 1/2 (divide top and bottom by 4)
5/25 can be reduced to 1/5 (divide top and bottom by 5)
6/8 can be reduced to 3/4 (divide top and bottom by 2)
Numerator/Denominator:
The numerator is the number on top of the fraction. The denominator is the number on the bottom of the fraction.
Simplify On Your Own: Identify Numerator/Denominator
20/60
6/36
Answers:
1. 1/3
2. 1/6
Numerator for #1 is 20. The denominator is 60.
Numerator for #2 is 6. The denominator is 36.
a fraction in simplest form could be: 1/2, 3/4, or 17/20. It is a fraction that cannot be reduced any further than it is already. examples of fractions that could be reduced further may be: 6/12 (in simplest form is 1/2) or 9/12 (in simplest form is 3/4). Another example may be 3/2. This is an IMPROPER fraction. it can be reduced. since three halves, is more than 2/2 (1), it would become 1 1/2 in simplest form. The reason 17/20 cannot be reduced is because the only common factor of 17 and 20 is 1, so dividing by 1 does not change the numbers.
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