How do you simplify a fraction?

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.

The quickest way is to take out the highest common factor from both and then divide - but remember what we do to the top number (numerator) we must do to the bottom number (denominator) so its key the factor fits into both leaving a whole number.

Don't worry if you can't spot the highest number, you can do it in multiple steps as long as you take the same numbers from both sides of the fraction.

Repeat this step until you end up with a fraction that has no common factors that fit into both the numerator or denominator (easy numbers to spot are prime numbers!).

Lets look at an example in two ways:

10/20:

1) Selecting the highest common factors of both numbers would be 10.

Dividing 10 by 10 gives us 1, which is now our new numerator.

Then dividing 20 by 10 gives us 2, which is now our new denominator.

Putting those together now gives us 1/2.

We cannot simplify this further as dividing something by 1 just gives us 1.

2) If you couldn't initially spot that 10 fit into both, start with a much simpler number such as 2.

Dividing both numbers by 2 would get us 5/10.

Look for any other common factors in both, in this case 5 fits into both.

Again divide by the common factor in this case that would get is 1/2.

We cannot simplify this further as dividing something by 1 just gives us 1.

Both give the same answer but one is quicker, but here my top tips would be doing the same to both the numerator and denominator and also ensuring both numbers are divisible by the factor.

Divide both numerator and denominator by the same number I.e 2 if 2 is divisible by both numbers. In order to get the most simplified fraction divide by the highest number that goes into both numbers of the fraction

Find the Highest Common Factor (HCF) of both the numerator and denominator and divide them by the HCF - you want to get the fraction/numbers as small as possible:

eg: 18/48

the HCF is 6

18/6 = 3

48/6 = 8

Therefore, the answer would be 3/8

Take a fraction 15/9

You see different numbers on numerator (top)and denominator (bottom).

Check whether that both the numbers are multiples of common number.

Here 9 and 15 are multiples of 3.

Next step is divide both the numbers by 3.

Or 15/3=5 and 9/3=3 so the answer is 5/3.

Now 5 and 3 are not multiples of common number. So this is the simplified answer. Hope you understand it.

Next example is if 12/13.

You don't have a common number which has 12 and 13 as it multiples. So you can't simplify it.

Hi Jermain,

Here's how you can simplify a fraction:

1. Find the Greatest Common Divisor (GCD) of the numerator and the denominator. This is the largest number that divides both the numerator and the denominator evenly.
2. Divide the numerator and the denominator by the GCD:
3. Write the fraction in its simplified form by putting the result of the division as the new numerator and denominator.

Hope this helps :)

You have to consider if the numbers at the top and bottom share a factor (a number that can go into both of them). Then you can divide both numbers by their shared factor. What you do to the top, you also have to do to the bottom. Then the number doesn't change value.

For example if the fraction is 28/35.

The factors of 28 are: 1, 2, 4, 7, 14 and 28.

The factors of 35 are: 1, 5, 7 and 35.

They both have 7 as a factor. So divide by the numbers by 7. 28 divided by 7 is 4. 35 divided by 7 is 5.

So, the fraction 28/35 can be simplified to 4/5.

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

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

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.

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

By dividing the numerator and denominator with the same number.

To simplify a fraction, you need to find the greatest common divisor or greatest common factor of the numerator (the top number) and the denominator (the bottom number) and then divide both the numerator and denominator by this common factor.

You find the highest number that divides into both the numerator and denominator.

Hey Jermain,

This may help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcEwj5_v75g