How to Simplify Fractions

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Welcome to the Math Salamanders support page about How to Simplify Fractions.

Here you will find information and support about how to convert a fraction into its simplest form.

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Fraction Learning

Fractions is an area that a lot of kids find hard to understand. One of the problems with fractions is that they have different meanings depending on the context.

For example, you can eat half an apple or cut an orange into fourths. But you can also put the number one-half on a number line, measure a line 3 1/2 cm long, or find a fourth of 24.

Once the concept of fractions as numbers and fractions as parts of a whole has been understood, your child will be well on their way to developing a sound understanding of fractions.

How to Simplify a Fraction Support Page

Here you will find some simple information and advice about how to simplify a fraction.

At the bottom of this page you will also find a printable resource sheet and some practice sheets which will help you understand and practice this math skill.

Using these sheets will help your child to:

understand simplest form;
develop their knowledge of equivalent fractions.

All the Printable Fraction sheets in this section support Elementary Math Benchmarks for 4th Grade.

Simplest Form Converter

If you want to simplify a fraction, please use the calculator below.

To enter a fraction, you have to enter the numerator followed by '/' followed by the denominator. E.g. 4/5 or 23/7

To enter a mixed fraction, first type the whole number followed by space followed by the numerator followed by '/' followed by the denominator. E.g. 3 1/4 (3 and a quarter).

If you need to find out how to simplify a fraction, there is more help further down!

Converting Fractions to Simplest Form Video

This short video clip will show you how to reduce 4 different fractions into simplest form.

How to Simplify Fractions

To simplify a fraction, you need to follow the 2 steps below:

$Frazer the Fraction Salamander$

Step 1

Look for a common factor of both the numerator and denominator.

If there are no common factors (other than 1) then the fraction is already in its simplest form and you have finished.
Try to find the highest factor of both numbers (highest common factor) that you can!

Step 2

Reduce the numerator and denominator by dividing them both by the common factor. Now go back to Step 1.

Your fraction should now be in its simplest form.

Convert Fractions to Simplest Form printable sheet

Here is a printable version of the support sheet.

$how to simplify fractions$

How to Simplify Fractions Printable Sheet

Examples

Example 1) Convert 35 45 to simplest form.

A common factor of both numbers is 5, so we need to divide the numerator and denominator by 5. This gives us:

35 ÷ 5 45 ÷ 5 = 7 9

There are no more common factors (except 1) and so this fraction is now in simplest form.

Example 2) Convert 68 220 into simplest form.

A common factor of both numbers is 2. Dividing the numerator and denominator by 2 gives us:

68 ÷ 2 220 ÷ 2 = 34 110

We are not finished yet, because 2 is a common factor of both numbers.

34 ÷ 2 110 ÷ 2 = 17 55

There are no more common factors (except 1) and so this fraction is now in simplest form.

Converting Fractions to Simplest Form Practice

Here you will find some practice sheets to test your skills at converting fractions to simplest form.

$fractions in simplest form 1.$

$simplify fraction converting fractions to simplest form 2$

Learning Fractions

Are you looking for free fraction help or fraction support?

Here you will find a range of fraction help on a variety of fraction topics, from simplest form to converting fractions.

There are fraction videos, worked examples and practice fraction worksheets.

Learning Fractions

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