How do you simplify a fraction?

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

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.

1) You look for a number that will go into both the top and bottom number:

Example:

40/70

The number 2 can go into both of these - so you divide both of them by 2:

= 20/35

2) After dividing the top and bottom by a number you look to see if it can be further divided by either the same number or a different one

Example:

20 and 35 are both divisible by 5 so now divide 20/35 by 5:

= 4/7

This works for all fractions.

*To do it quicker you can look for the largest number both numbers are divisible by so the 40/70 is also both divisible by 10 which would make it the 4/7 in one step. It is okay to need to break it down slowly though and do it in a few steps!

you find a number (integer) that divides into both the top and bottom numbers of the fraction and write the new fraction with the results of these divisions. If it is then possible to find a number that divides into both the new top and bottom numbers then proceed. This process is continued until there are no longer any integers that divide into both the top and bottom of the resulting fraction. Because you have divided both top and bottom by the same amount the ratio of the top and bottom remains constant through the process and so in effect you have the same fractional amount but with smaller (simpler) numbers

Find the highest number that divides both into the numerator and denominator

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!

1st step is i would write down the factors of the numerator and the denominator

2nd step is to note the common factor to both numerator and denominator

3rd step is divide the the numerator and denominator with the highest common factor(HCF)

The fraction you get is your simplified fraction.

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.

To simplify a fraction, you first need to find a number that you can divide both the numerator (number at the top of the fraction) and the denominator (number at the bottom of the fraction) by. For example, if we have a fraction of 18/40, we need to find a number we can divide the numerator (18) and denominator (40) by.

Once you find a number you can divide the numerator and denominator by, you need to divide them by that number. In the case above, both numbers are even, so we can divide them both by 2. If we divide them by 2, the numerator becomes 9 (18/2=9) and the denominator becomes 20 (40/2=20). This means the fraction is now 9/20.

After dividing the numerator and denominator, if you can not find another number that both the numerator and denominator are divisible by, then the fraction is simplified. With our example, 9/20 is simplified as there is no number that you can divide 9 and 20 by.

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.