Simplifying fractions
How do you simplify fractions?
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to simplify fractions:
Step 1: Find the Greatest Common Divisor (GCD):
- The first step in simplifying a fraction is to find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of the numerator (top number) and the denominator (bottom number). The GCD is the largest number that divides evenly into both the numerator and the denominator.
Step 2: Divide both numbers by the GCD:
- Once you've found the GCD, divide both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction by this common divisor. This step simplifies the fraction to its lowest terms.
Step 3: Check for further simplification (Optional):
- After dividing by the GCD, check if the resulting fraction can be simplified further. If both the numerator and the denominator have common factors, repeat the process of finding the GCD and dividing until you can no longer simplify the fraction.
What is an example of how to simplify a fraction?
Here is an example of how to simplify a fraction:
Let's say we have the fraction 8/12.
The GCD of 8 and 12 is 4.
Divide both the numerator and denominator by 4.
8 divided by 4 = 2
12 divided by 4 = 3
The simplified fraction is 2/3
How will this simplifying fractions worksheet help your child?
This teacher-created fractions worksheet will help your child consolidate their knowledge and boost confidence in their ability to simplify fractions. They will be shown a clear and easy-to-understand example of how to simplify a fraction, then they will be asked 10 questions to help them practise what they've learned.
For more help with fractions, visit our hub page, or try a new challenge, such as our Finding fractions of quantities worksheet.
