How do you simplify a fraction?

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

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

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 fractions, e.g. 2/4, I would find what whole number can top and bottom fraction be divided by to give you new fraction. For example 2 and 4 can both be divided by 2, so final answer would be 1/2. In big number fractions where you couldn't think of common number to divide by straight away, I would start with small number e.g. 2, 3, 4, then gradually experiment it and increase it until you found one.

You simplify a fraction by thinking about what numbers we can divide into the top and bottom of the fraction. For example for 4/10 we can divide this by 2 to give 2/5. We can't divide that any further so that is the simplest form.

Find the highest common factor between the numerator and denominator. When you find the highest common factor divide the numerator and denominator by the highest common factor.

A fraction can be simplified if the same number can divide the top number (numerator) by the bottom number (denominator).

Take the fraction 2/4, for example. Both 2 and 4 can be divided by 2, which results in 1/2,

Another example is 4/8. Both 4 and 8 can be divided by 4, which results in 1/2 as well.

Therefore, by simplifying, we can see that 2/4 is equal to 4/8, and both of them are equal to 1/2.

You look at both the numerator (top number) and denominator (bottom number) and see if there is a factor that goes into both.

eg) 8/10.

2 goes into both 8 and 10, so we can divide by 2

8/10 divided by 2 = 4/5

4/5 is the simplified version!

Hey Jermain,

Firstly, you need to find the largest whole number that divides fully into both the top and bottom numbers (this is called the Largest Common Factor (LCF)).

Once you've done this, divide the top and bottom of the fraction by this number.

Examples:

25/125 -> the largest common factor is 25 -> divide the top and the bottom by 25 -> 1/5 -> cannot simplify any further

27/108 -> the largest common factor is 27 -> divide the top and bottom by 27 -> 1/4 -> cannot simplify any further

If there is no whole number that divides into both (apart from 1), then it is already simplified as far as it will go. Sorted!

TIPS:

• Sometimes finding the number that fits into both is just a matter of trying different numbers to see which fits best.
• ALWAYS double-check that the final fraction cannot be simplified further, because sometimes you may find what you 'think' is the LCF, but turns out it's not - trust me, it's happened to me before!

Firstly, write the factors of the numerator and denominator.

Secondly, identify the highest common factor of the numerator and denominator.

Then, divide the numerator and denominator by their highest common factor. The fraction you obtain will be in its simplest form.

Initially taking the numerator i.e. top number and denominator i.e bottom number, find a number that can both be divided by the same number. Taking 3/6, as both have a common factor of 3, this fraction can be simplified into 1/2.

Find a common factor between the numerator and the denominator and divide both by this factor. Continue doing this until there are no more common factors that you can divide by. You will then be left with a fraction that is now simplified.

In order to simply a fraction you have to find a common factor between the numerator and denominator and divide both top and bottom by the same number. Keep doing this until there is no longer any common factors. The fraction is now simplified.

You can simplify a fraction if both the top and bottom number can be divided by the same number. For example 8/18... both numbers can be divided separately by 8. If you do this, the top number (numerator) will become 1 and bottom (denominator) 2 = 1/2

Hey Jermain,

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