Albert Teen
powered by
Albert logo

YOU ARE LEARNING:

pointer
Simplifying Fractions
lessonMenuButton

Simplifying Fractions

lesson introduction

Simplifying Fractions

You can make fractions easier to read by simplifying them.

1

Pizza A was divided into four slices and two are left. What is this as a fraction?

hint button
block image
2

Pizza B was divided into six slices and three are left. What is this as a fraction?

hint button
block image
3

So there are a different number of slices left of each pizza

There are 24\dfrac{2}{4} slices left of pizza A. There are 36\dfrac{3}{6} slices left of pizza B.

block image
4

There are a different number of slices but is this statement true or false?

There is the same amount of pizza left in pizza A and in pizza B.

hint button
block image
5

In both cases, the remaining pizza takes up half a plate

So in fact, 24\dfrac{2}{4} and 36\dfrac{3}{6} stand for the same amount. **** We say they are equivalent to "one half" or 12\dfrac{1}{2}.

block image
1

You can change for example 36\dfrac{3}{6} into 12\dfrac{1}{2} because they are equivalent. To do this, we need to __________ the fraction.

hint button
block image
2

Simplifying fractions

When you simplify a fraction, you make it easier to read. For example, it is much easier to read 12\dfrac{1}{2} than to read 4692\dfrac{46}{92}.

block image
1

True or false? There is the same amount of cake left in both cake A and in cake B.

hint button
block image
2

What is the fraction of cake left on plate A?

hint button
block image
3

The fraction of cake on plate B is 26\dfrac{2}{6}.

This shows that 39\dfrac{3}{9} and 26\dfrac{2}{6} are equivalent fractions, they are the same amount of cake.

block image
4

True or false? You can simplify 39\dfrac{3}{9} and 26\dfrac{2}{6} to 13\dfrac{1}{3}.

hint button
block image
1

Pizza A has four out of eight slices left or 48\dfrac{4}{8}. What is the simplified equivalent fraction for this?

hint button
block image
2

Pizza B has four of six slices left or 46\dfrac{4}{6}. What is the simplified equivalent fraction to this?

hint button
block image
3

Although both pizzas have four slices left there is more of pizza B left than pizza A.

This shows that 23\dfrac{2}{3} and 12\dfrac{1}{2} are not equivalent fractions.

block image
1

Is it correct to simplify 412\dfrac{4}{12} to 26\dfrac{2}{6}?

hint button
block image
2

However!

If you simplify 412\dfrac{4}{12} to 26\dfrac{2}{6}, you haven't simplified the fraction fully - it can be simplified further!

block image
3

Which fraction is the simplest fraction that is equivalent to 412\dfrac{4}{12} and 26\dfrac{2}{6}?

hint button
block image
4

13\dfrac{1}{3} is fully simplified - it is as simplified as it can be

Fractions cannot contain decimals, so you can't change 13\dfrac{1}{3}into 0.51.5\dfrac{0.5}{1.5}, for example.

block image

How simplifying fractions really works

1

How do you actually get from 39\dfrac{3}{9} to 13\dfrac{1}{3} when simplifying the fraction?

hint button
2

1230\dfrac{12}{30} can be fully simplified to 25\dfrac{2}{5}. What number have you divided both the numerator and the denominator by?

hint button
3

When simplifying a fraction you must divide the numerator and the denominator by the same number.

12÷630÷6=25\dfrac{12\div 6}{30\div 6}=\dfrac{2}{5} you can see that the same number is used for both the numerator and the denominator.

4

You have fully simplified a fraction when there is no number that divides into both the numerator and denominator. Which fraction here is not fully simplified?

hint button
5

Which number can we use to simplify 410\dfrac{4}{10}?

hint button
6

We can divide the numerator and denominator in 410\dfrac{4}{10} by 22.

This gives 25\dfrac{2}{5} which is fully simplified!

1

Fully simplify 2472\dfrac{24}{72}

We can do this in one step or several steps.

2

First let's notice that both numbers here are even so we can divide them by 22. What to we get when we do that 24÷272÷2=\dfrac{24\div 2}{72\div 2}=?

hint button
3

Is 1236\dfrac{12}{36} fully simplified?

hint button
4

We can simplify further. What happens now 12÷1236÷12=\dfrac{12\div 12}{36\div 12}=?

hint button
5

We have simplified the fraction from 2472\dfrac{24}{72} to 13\dfrac{1}{3}.

This is now fully simplified!

Fully simplify 1215\dfrac{12}{15}.

hint button

Fully simplify 4864\dfrac{48}{64}.

hint button
1

Summary! Simplifying fractions makes them easier to read

The original fraction and the simplified fraction have to represent the same amount.

block image
2

You have fully simplified a fraction when the numerator and denominator can't get any smaller

This means that there is no number that divides into both the numerator and denominator.

block image
3

To fully simplify 3075\dfrac{30}{75}: First 30÷575÷5=615\dfrac{30\div 5}{75\div 5}=\dfrac{6}{15} and then 6÷315÷3=25\dfrac{6\div 3}{15\div 3}=\dfrac{2}{5}.

Or do it in one step 30÷1575÷15=25\dfrac{30\div 15}{75\div 15}=\dfrac{2}{5}

block image