How can use mental math to determine if a ratio is simplified?

Answer 1

To determine if a ratio is simplified using mental math, first identify the greatest common factor (GCF) of the two numbers in the ratio. If the GCF is 1, the ratio is already in its simplest form. Alternatively, you can quickly check if both numbers are divisible by the same small primes (like 2, 3, or 5); if they are not, the ratio is likely simplified. If you can divide both numbers by the same integer greater than 1 without remainder, the ratio can still be simplified.