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How to Simplify Fractions?

What is meant by simplifying a fraction?

Simplifying a fraction means writing its equivalent fraction in a simpler form.

How do you simplify a fraction?

To simplify a fraction, divide its numerator and denominator by the same number. Keep dividing numerator and denominator as long as they still have a common factor. Once there are no more common factors between numerator and denominator, the fraction cannot be further simplified.

1. Write
6
12
in its simplest form.

A short-cut way to simplifying a fraction is to divide its numerator and denominator by the same number.
We can simplify the fraction further as below.
The simplest form of
6
12
is
1
2
.

2. Find the missing numerator below:
10
15
=
?
3

Compare the denominators.
15 is divided by 5 to get 3.
So, we must also divide the numerator by 5 to get a simplified equivalent fraction.
10
15
=
2
3
So, the missing numerator is 2.

3. Is
4
6
the simplest equivalent fraction of
8
12
?
     If not, what is the simplest equivalent fraction of
8
12
?

We use division to find a fraction in its simplest form.
We can simplify
4
6
further.
So,
4
6
is not the simplest equivalent fraction of
8
12
.
Only 1 goes into both 2 and 3, so
2
3
cannot be simplified any further.
4
6
was equal to
8
12
, but it was not finished.

The simplest equivalent fraction of
8
12
is
2
3
.
Try 3 questions