Fractions in Simplest Form

There are two different ways to write a fractions in simplest form.



1) Divide by common factors.
2) Divide by using GCF.
A fraction is in the lowest term when the only common factor between the numerator and the denominator is 1.

Example : Write 20/24 in simplest form :

Divide by common factors
• Divide by common factors until the common factor is 1.
• You can start dividing by 2 since both the numbers are even.

 20 ÷ 2           10
 ---------- = -----
 24 ÷ 2           12
But both 10 and 12 are also even so they are divisible by 2.

 10 ÷ 2           5
 ---------- = -----
 12 ÷ 2           6

• Since 5 and 6 do not have any common factor so 5/6 is the simplest form of 20/24.
Divide by using GCF
• First find the GCF of 20 and 24.
  20 : 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20
  24 : 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24
• The common factors of 20 and 24 are 2 and 4. The GCF of 20 and 24 is 4.
• Divide both the numerator and denominator by 4.

 20 ÷ 4           5
 ---------- = -----
 24 ÷ 4           6

Practice


Q.1 Reduce the fraction in its lowest(simplest) form in each of the following:
1) (14 ÷ 7) / (21 ÷7)
2) (12 ÷ 4) / (16 ÷4)
3) (18 ÷ 9) / (27 ÷9)
4) (10 ÷ 5) / (15 ÷5)

Q.2 Write the common factor in the following fractions :
1) 12/18         2) 16/20
3) 36/48         4) 7/35
5) 13/23         6) 20/50

Q.3 Reduce the following fractions to their simplest (lowest) form:
1) 2/6            2) 12/15
3) 18/20         4) 26/65
5) 16/20         6) 43/23


Fraction

Types of Fractions
Conversion of improper to mixed fraction
Equivalent Fractions
Fractions in Simplest form
Like and Unlike Fractions
Add fractions
Subtraction of fractions
Multiplying Fractions

Simplest fractions to Fractions

Home Page