Simplifying Fractions

Sometimes fractions aren't as small as they can be. For example, 25/100 can be simplified to 1/4 by dividing both the numerator and denominator by 25. When simplifying fractions both the numerator and the denominator have to be divided by the same number, in the example 25 was taken out.

Numerator  = Number on top

Denominator = Number on bottom

Reducing Fractions

Find a common multiple of both the top and bottom numbers that occur in the fraction. 

Then reduce the fraction

 For example 

10/20  each of these numbers has factors

10- 1,2,5,10

20- 1,2,4,5,10,20 

Take the biggest factor that is in each of the numbers in the fraction and divide the numerator and denominator by each.

So take 10/20 divided by 10/10 and your answer results in 1/2. So when reducing 10/20 you are simplifying the fraction down to 1/2.

When adding or subtracting fractions that have different denominators, check for a common number that can make it easier. Otherwise, multiply each by the opposite denominator. So if you have 7/8 - 4/6. The most obvious would be to take 7/8 *6/6 to get 42/48. 4/6*8/8 is 32/48 so 10/48 is the answer which can be reduced to 5/12. Although there are many other ways to solve that problem. Whatever works to get the right answer.

Try these few problems:

 1.    3/15

 2.    4/16

 3. 10/100

Answers to the above problems:

1. 1/5

2. 1/4

3. 1/10