SIMPLIFYING FRACTIONS
How to make large Fractions smaller...
Do you remember how equivalent fractions work? I hope so! Well, Simplifying Fractions is quite similar, but rather than multiplying the fraction, you will need to divide to get a smaller, more simple answer. You must divide both the numerator and the denominator.
Some Examples:
27/33 divide both numerator and denominator by 3 = 9/11
15/35 divide both numerator and denominator by 5 = 3/7
70/105 divide both numerator and denominator by 5 = 14/21
This last example was divided by 5, however it looks like it can be simplified further...
14/21 divide both numerator and denominator by 7 = 2/3
Always remember that when both numerator and denominator are even then you can simplify the fraction further. For example, 2/4 can still be divided by 2 (both numerator & denominator) to make 1/2. But 1/2 is the lowest term.
Fractions that have a prime number in them cannot be simplified any further, as prime numbers can only be divided by one and itself.
Some Examples:
27/33 divide both numerator and denominator by 3 = 9/11
15/35 divide both numerator and denominator by 5 = 3/7
70/105 divide both numerator and denominator by 5 = 14/21
This last example was divided by 5, however it looks like it can be simplified further...
14/21 divide both numerator and denominator by 7 = 2/3
Always remember that when both numerator and denominator are even then you can simplify the fraction further. For example, 2/4 can still be divided by 2 (both numerator & denominator) to make 1/2. But 1/2 is the lowest term.
Fractions that have a prime number in them cannot be simplified any further, as prime numbers can only be divided by one and itself.
This video clearly shows how to simplify fractions and is worth a look:
http://www.youtube.com/user/teachertubemath?feature=watch
Activity - Class Questions
Materials Needed:
*Mathematics book
*Lead pencil
*Coloured pencils
This activity is to be done as a class for the question part and then class members can work in groups or individually to simplify the fractions. Each class member will make up their own question to ask the rest of the class and all class members will need to record the answers.
Example questions are:
How many people in the class have dogs?
How many people in the class like banana?
How many people in the class have been overseas?
How many people in the class like blue as their favorite colour?
Once all questions have been answered, then you can work in groups or individually to work out the lowest term or smallest fraction for each question.
TIP: Try to make your question one that not everyone will answer the same.
Try this game out, for practice with simplifying fractions:
http://www.what2learn.com/home/examgames/maths/simplifying3/
http://www.youtube.com/user/teachertubemath?feature=watch
Activity - Class Questions
Materials Needed:
*Mathematics book
*Lead pencil
*Coloured pencils
This activity is to be done as a class for the question part and then class members can work in groups or individually to simplify the fractions. Each class member will make up their own question to ask the rest of the class and all class members will need to record the answers.
Example questions are:
How many people in the class have dogs?
How many people in the class like banana?
How many people in the class have been overseas?
How many people in the class like blue as their favorite colour?
Once all questions have been answered, then you can work in groups or individually to work out the lowest term or smallest fraction for each question.
TIP: Try to make your question one that not everyone will answer the same.
Try this game out, for practice with simplifying fractions:
http://www.what2learn.com/home/examgames/maths/simplifying3/