how do you simplify fractions?

Answer 1

get a calculator with fraction symbol.


figure out the pattern.
2/4 = 1/2
3/6 = 1/2
4/10 = 2/5

Answer 2

I give you some examples:

1) 10/20 = (10/10) /(20/10) = 1/2 (Take less common factor)

2) 2/4 = (2/2)/(4/2) = 1/2

3) 3/12 = (3/3)/12/3 = 1/4

4) 5/25 = (5/5)/(25/5) = 1/5

5) 4/64 = (4/4)/(64/4) = 1/4

6) 2/8 X 4/16 => 2/8 = (2/2)/(8/2) = 1/4 and
4/16 = (4/4)/(4/1) = 1/4

we have : 1/4 X 1/4 = 1/16 or 2/8 X 4/16 = 8/128=(8/8)/(128/8)
= 1/16

7) 1/0 X 0/1 => we can't divide by 0 so, we can't simplify this
expression. '' Be carefull''

8) 2/200 X 200/2 = 1 because a/b X b/a is always 1.
a and b are different of 0.

Answer 3

"simplify" means "lowest terms," or "as low as possible." the fraction 15/24, for example, needs to be simplified. we try to remember what number(s) (besides 1) will divide into 15 and 24 evenly. Let's try 3:
15/3= 5
24/3=8
therefore, 5/8 is 15/24 simplified. hope this helps.

Answer 4

In general, find the largest number that both the numerator (top) and dennominator can be divided by. I remember denominator as down-ominator (the bottom term). You might try asking for tricks in how to tell if a number is divisible by another number. Like if number is even, it is divisible by two, so for the fraction:

26/4

the top and bottom can both be divided by two to reduce it to 13/4. 13 is a prime number, so this is as reduced as it can be.

I think if the digits of a number add up to something divisible by three, the number is divisible by three, so for the fraction:

39/12

3+9=12, which is divisible by three and 1+2=3, which is also divisible by three. Divide the top and bottom by three to get 13/4, which is again reduced.

There are some other tricks like this for divisible by 4, 7, etc, but I forget what they are. Also, sometimes 13/4 should be reduced to 13/4=3 remainder 1 to get 3 1/4, but that depends on who you are doing this for.

Answer 5

you reduce by dividing. let's say you have a fraction 3/15 well 3 goes into itself 1 time, 3 goes into 15 5 times, so the fraction 3/15 becomes 1/5

30/35= 6/7 (numerator and denominator divided by 5)

18/48= 3/8 both divided by 6

27/180= 3/20 both divided by 9

get it? for more math help ask yahoo answers!!!!

Answer 6

It would have been bette rhad you provided examples.

You look for common factors in the numerator & deniminator & divide both by these factors.

Examples:
2/4=2/(2*2) 2 is a common factor, so divide by 2 & get 1/2

6/27=2*3/(3*3*3) divide by 3 getting 2/9

Hope this helps.

Answer 7

well you need to find a common denominator, sometimes called the LCD. Then reduce.

like 4/10 is not the smallest (simplified). You divide by 2 and it becomes 2/5. That is simplified.

Answer 8

divide an equal amount from top and bottom. that is one way to think about it in really simple terms. for example:

50/100
divide top # and bottom # by 5
10/20
divide top and bottom by 2
5/10
divide top and bottom by 5
1/2

just remember what you do to the top must be done to the bottom.

Answer 9

Divide both the numerator (top) and denominator by the same number.
Maybe you can do it again and again and again and ...

Th