How do you simplify fractions?

Question

8276 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2016-04-13T16:50:56

See explanation.

To simplify a fraction youu have to divide both its numerator and denominator by the same number.

Examples:

a)

$\frac{3}{9} = \frac{1 \cdot 3}{3 \cdot 3} = \frac{1}{3}$ $3/9=(1*3)/(3*3)=1/3$

In this example I reduced the fraction by $3$ $3$ .

b)

$\frac{16}{32} = \frac{8 \cdot 2}{16 \cdot 2} = \frac{8}{16}$ $16/32=(8*2)/(16*2)=8/16$

$\frac{8}{16} = \frac{4 \cdot 2}{8 \cdot 2} = \frac{4}{8}$ $8/16=(4*2)/(8*2)=4/8$

$\frac{4}{8} = \frac{2 \cdot 2}{2 \cdot 4} = \frac{2}{4}$ $4/8=(2*2)/(2*4)=2/4$

$\frac{2}{4} = \frac{1 \cdot 2}{2 \cdot 2} = \frac{1}{2}$ $2/4=(1*2)/(2*2)=1/2$

In this example I reduced the original fraction gradually. Instead of that I could reduce the fraction by $16$ $16$

$\frac{16}{32} = \frac{1 \cdot 16}{2 \cdot 16} = \frac{1}{2}$ $16/32=(1*16)/(2*16)=1/2$