how do you simplify fractions. I am a stumped dad! Thanks?

Answer 1

To simplify a fraction:

Find a common factor of the numerator and denominator. A common factor is a number that will divide into both numbers evenly. Two is a common factor of 4 and 14.
Divide both the numerator and denominator by the common factor.
Repeat this process until there are no more common factors.
The fraction is simplified when no more common factors exist.

Answer 2

I think those answers are a little complicated, and I used to be a tutor, so here is how I would explain it.
2/4=1/2 (This is a Visual) Maybe make a visual. It might help.
All you have to do is divide the top number and the bottom number by another number. For instance, 8/20 with each side divided by four would be 2/5, which doesn't share a common dividing number. So that is the smallest it can be. If you would have divided 8/20 by 2, you would have gotten 4/10, which you could have divided by 2 again, but you would still end up with 2/5.
Is that any help?

Answer 3

You find the greatest common factor, which is the largest number that divides evenly into both the numerator and denominator of the fraction (the top number and bottom number) and divide both numerator and denominator by that same factor.

Here's a couple of examples:

12/16 = 3/4 because you can divide 4 evenly into both 12 and 16.

15/30 = 1/2 because 15 is the greatest common factor.

Here's why it works:
If you divide both the numerator and denominator by the same number, it is like dividing the entire fraction by one, which of course leaves you with the same number.

12/16 divided by 4/4 equals 3/4

15/30 divided by 15/15 equals 1/2

~~~~~~~

Next, if the numerator (number on the top) is larger than the denominator (number on the bottom), divide the top number by the bottom number, and the quotient will be a whole number, and the remainder will be the new numerator, with the same denominator.

Example:

11/4 = 2 3/4 because 11 divided by 4 is 2, with a remainder of 3.

Answer 4

Fractions may have numerators and denominators that are composite numbers (numbers that has more factors than 1 and itself).

To simplify a fraction:

Find a common factor of the numerator and denominator. A common factor is a number that will divide into both numbers evenly. Two is a common factor of 4 and 14.
Divide both the numerator and denominator by the common factor.
Repeat this process until there are no more common factors.
The fraction is simplified when no more common factors exist.

OR
Find the Greatest Common Factor of the numerator and denominator
Divide the numerator and the denominator by the Greatest Common Factor

Answer 5

See if the top and bottom numbers can be divided by the same number - for example, 4/6 = 2/3 (2x2=4 / 2x3=6) or 12/36 = 1/3 (1x12=12 / 3x12=36). When you take it down to the lowest numbers you can, then you've simplified the fraction.

Answer 6

Tenoh is right but the easiest way is to try and find the biggest number that will divide into the two numbers evenly. If your fraction is 36/48 you can simplify it if you divide both by 2, 3, 4, or 6, but the largest number you can use is 12. That will allow you to solve in the least number of steps.

Answer 7

SIMPLIFY...
wow your other answers look complicated to me.
Get a whole pie.
cut them into 4 pieces
look at one peice
you have 1/4 of the pie
and so on and so on

Answer 8

you can divide the top number into itself...like if you have 8/16, 8 goes into 8 once and 8 goes into 16 twice...you get 1/2. Hope that makes sense!

Answer 9

A general method is to cross multiply.

For example

2/3 + 4/5 =

(2 x 5) + (3 x 4)
----------------------- =
(3 x 5)

10 + 12
------------ =
15

22/15

Answer 10

wow, answer 1 and 2 are both great . . .