Download Simplest form of a fraction

SIMPLEST FORM OF A FRACTION

Simplest form – no common factors for numerator and
denominator

Factors – numbers that are multiplied to give a
product
BASIC CONCEPTS

Any number multiplied or divided by
doesn’t
change its value

Similarly dividing numerator and denominator by the
same number won’t change the value of the fraction
BASIC CONCEPTS
So the value of the fraction
doesn’t change.

Dividing the numerator and denominator by the same
number is the same as dividing by
FIND THE SIMPLEST FORM OF A FRACTION,
4
EXAMPLE
16
 First, find the common factors of the numerator
and denominator

Factors of 4: 1, 2, 4 (1 × 4 =4; 2 × 2 =4; 4 × 1 =4)

Factors of 16: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 (1 × 16=16; 2 × 8=16; 4 ×
4=16; 8 × 2=16; 16 × 1=16)

Next, find the Greatest common factor

Greatest number that is a factor for both numerator
and denominator

Here, it is 4
4
SIMPLEST FORM OF 16

Divide the numerator and denominator by the
Greatest common factor

4÷4=1

16 ÷ 4 = 4
1
4
 So, the simplest form of
is
4
16
DOWNLOAD THE ENTIRE FRACTIONS
LESSON FREE

The Complete Lesson Includes
Expressing a Fraction as Part of a Whole
 Reading and Writing Fractions
 Classifying Fractions
 Finding Equivalent Fractions
 Simplifying Fractions
 Expressing Part of a Whole as a Decimal
 Relating Fractions to Decimals
 Reading and Writing Decimals

FIND THE SIMPLEST FORM OF

Common factors

16 : 1, 2, 4, 8, 16

84 : 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 12, 14, 21, 42,84

Once past the max value of numerator there won’t be a
common factor

Greatest common factor = 4
ROLLER COASTER RIDE

Megan and her friends ride a roller coaster. The
roller coaster has eight cars. Four of the cars are
blue. How can you write a fraction for the blue
cars in simplest form.

Fraction

Common factors


4 : 1, 2, 4
8 : 1, 2, 4, 8
MEGAN AND HER FRIENDS TOSS PING-PONG
BALLS TO WIN FISH. 6 FISH ARE BLUE AND 6
ARE YELLOW, SO MEGAN SAYS THAT
OF THE
FISH ARE BLUE
1
 2

2
4
of the fish are blue
Simplest form of
3
,6
4
, 8,
and
6
12
6
12
are other ways of representing it
DOWNLOAD THE ENTIRE FRACTIONS
LESSON FREE

The Complete Lesson Includes
Expressing a Fraction as Part of a Whole
 Reading and Writing Fractions
 Classifying Fractions
 Finding Equivalent Fractions
 Simplifying Fractions
 Expressing Part of a Whole as a Decimal
 Relating Fractions to Decimals
 Reading and Writing Decimals
