How do you simplify a fraction?

You do this by looking to see if there’s a common factor between the numerator and denominator (a number both numbers can be divided by) then dividing both by this number. Then keep doing that until you can’t anymore.

for example 14 and 12 can both be divided by 2, so 12/14 simplified is equal to 6/7.

You can also use one of the numbers in the fraction as the divider; 4 and 16 are both divisible by 4 so 4/16 simplifies to 1/4.

Hope this helps

Divide both the numerator and the denominator by HCF to get the simplified fraction.

You simplify a fraction by finding the highest common factor that divides both the numerator and the denominator.

You are able to simplify a fraction if the numerator and denominator can both be divided by the same number. For example if you had 3/12 you need to ask yourself, can you divide 12 by 3? If yes then how many times does it go? It goes 4 times. Therefore it can be simplified to 1/4

Divide the top (numerator) and bottom (denominator) numbers by factors of the number. The aim is to get it into it's simplest form (where you can't divide it anymore)

EG 10/100 - you can divide the top and bottom by 2 to get 5/50 then again by 5 to get 1/10 or you can simply divide it by 10 to start with and get 1/10

Think of the highest, common factor (HCF) of both the numerator and the denominator, then divide both by that number, that way, you will get the fraction in its most simplest form.

For example: the H.C.F. of 20/30 is 10, so:

20 / 10 = 2

30 / 10 = 3

So 20/30 in it's simplest form is 2/3.

A simplified fraction is a fraction that has the smallest denominator (bottom number) possible.

The rule for simplifying fractions is as follows: whatever mathematical operation you perform on the denominator, you must also do to the numerator (top number).

Let us look at some examples: 24

Simplify 32

As both numbers are even, the easiest method is to halve each number until you can go no lower:

12 6 3

16 8 4

We can also look to see if the numbers are common multiples (if they can be divided by the same number other than two). In this case, they are both in the 8 times table:

24 3

32 divided by 8 4

42

Simplify 49

With these numbers, we cant use the tried and tested method of halving each number until you can go no further. Again we can look if the numbers can be divided by the same number. In this case they are both in the 7 times table, so we should divide both numbers by 7:

42 6

49 divided by 7 7

3 Steps for Simplifying Fractions

1. Step 1: List the factors for both the numerator and denominator.
2. Step 2: Circle the greatest factor they both have in common, known as the greatest common factor. ( GCF)
3. Step 3: Divide both the numerator AND denominator by the GCF.

To simplify a fractions you must divide both the top and the bottom number by the same amount until your answer is no longer a whole number.

For example: 15/35 simplified is 15 divided by 5 is 3 and 35 divided by 5 is 7. So our answer is 3/7

You find a whole number which can divide evenly into both the numerator and denominator and then divide both sides by that number. For example, if we had 6/12 as a fraction, we know that 6 divides into both 6 and 12. We can then divide both sides by 6 to get 1/2.

You need to find a number that can divide into both the numerator and the denominator.

Take for example 2/4. Both these numbers are divisible by 2, and by dividing both by 2 you get 1/2. As 2 divided by 2 is 1, and 4 divided by 2 is 2 hence 1/2.

Find a common factor for both the top and bottom numbers and divide

find the highest common factor between the numerator and denominator, then divide both by this common factor

Find a common number between the denominator and numerator, both numbers must be a whole number

To simplify a fraction, you need to find the common factor of the numerator (top number) and the denominator (bottom number) and then divide both the numerator and the denominator by this common factor. This process reduces the fraction to its simplest form. For example, to simplify the fraction 8/12, you would find that the common factor of 8 and 12 is 4. Dividing both the numerator and denominator by 4 results in the simplified fraction 2/3. (8 divided by 4 = 2 and 12 divided by 4 = 3= 2/3 two thirds). Top tip- whatever you do to the top number, you have to do to the bottom number.