Simplifying fractions
The Maths Habit
Which bar has the same amount shaded as this bar?
This barA✓ The sameBLess shadedCMore shaded
Halve both numbers.
6 and 83 and 4
10 and 45 and 2
12 and 206 and 10
- Numerator
- The top number of a fraction. It tells you how many parts are shaded.
- Denominator
- The bottom number of a fraction. It tells you how many equal parts.
- Simplest form
- The same fraction with the smallest numbers. Only 1 goes into the top and the bottom.
34
34
68
34
topbottom
2
÷number
÷number
- 1Pick a number that goes into both.Try 2, 3, 5 or 10. Join the parts into groups of that number.
- 2Divide the top and the bottom.Use the same number for both. Count the groups.
Simplify 68
1Pick a number that goes into both.
2Divide the top and the bottom.
68
2
÷2
÷2
34
Simplify 1015
1Pick a number that goes into both.
2Divide the top and the bottom.
1015
2
÷5
÷5
23
Simplify 68
1Pick a number that goes into both.
2Divide the top and the bottom.
68
2
÷2
÷2
34
1Pick a number that goes into both.2Divide the top and the bottom.
Simplify 410
1Pick a number that goes into both.
2Divide the top and the bottom.
410
2
÷2
÷2
25
Simplify 68
1Pick a number that goes into both.
2Divide the top and the bottom.
68
2
÷2
÷2
34
1Pick a number that goes into both.2Divide the top and the bottom.
Simplify 39
1Pick a number that goes into both.
2Divide the top and the bottom.
39
2
÷3
÷3
13
Simplify 68
1Pick a number that goes into both.
2Divide the top and the bottom.
68
2
÷2
÷2
34
1Pick a number that goes into both.2Divide the top and the bottom.
Simplify 1416
1Pick a number that goes into both.
2Divide the top and the bottom.
1416
2
÷2
÷2
78
1Pick a number that goes into both.2Divide the top and the bottom.
1Simplify 28
1
28
2
÷2
÷2
14
2Simplify 69
1
69
2
÷3
÷3
23
3Simplify 810
1
810
2
÷2
÷2
45
4Simplify 1012
1
1012
2
÷2
÷2
56
Is it in its simplest form?
34Yes
46No: 2 goes into both
25Yes
69No: 3 goes into both
topbottom
2
÷number
÷number
3
÷number
÷number
- 1Pick a number that goes into both.Try 2, 3, 5 or 10. Join the parts into groups of that number.
- 2Divide the top and the bottom.Use the same number for both. Count the groups.
- 3Divide again if you can.Stop when only 1 goes into both. This is the simplest form.
Simplify 812
1Pick a number that goes into both.
2Divide the top and the bottom.
3Divide again if you can.
812
2
÷2
÷2
46
3
÷2
÷2
23
Simplify 416
1Pick a number that goes into both.
2Divide the top and the bottom.
3Divide again if you can.
416
2
÷2
÷2
28
3
÷2
÷2
14
Simplify 812
1Pick a number that goes into both.
2Divide the top and the bottom.
3Divide again if you can.
812
2
÷2
÷2
46
3
÷2
÷2
23
1Pick a number that goes into both.2Divide the top and the bottom.3Divide again if you can.
Simplify 1228
1Pick a number that goes into both.
2Divide the top and the bottom.
3Divide again if you can.
1228
2
÷2
÷2
614
3
÷2
÷2
37
Simplify 812
1Pick a number that goes into both.
2Divide the top and the bottom.
3Divide again if you can.
812
2
÷2
÷2
46
3
÷2
÷2
23
1Pick a number that goes into both.2Divide the top and the bottom.3Divide again if you can.
Simplify 927
1Pick a number that goes into both.
2Divide the top and the bottom.
3Divide again if you can.
927
2
÷3
÷3
39
3
÷3
÷3
13
Simplify 812
1Pick a number that goes into both.
2Divide the top and the bottom.
3Divide again if you can.
812
2
÷2
÷2
46
3
÷2
÷2
23
1Pick a number that goes into both.2Divide the top and the bottom.3Divide again if you can.
Simplify 1428
1Pick a number that goes into both.
2Divide the top and the bottom.
3Divide again if you can.
1428
2
÷2
÷2
714
3
÷7
÷7
12
Answer sheet
Is it right?
Thumbs up: right. Thumbs down: wrong.
68 = 34 in its simplest form
Right1216 = 68 in its simplest form
Wrong: divide again510 = 15 in its simplest form
Wrong: it is 12412 = 13 in its simplest form
Right912 = 34 in its simplest form
Right
Simplify 3648 in one step.
÷ 12: 34Which is the odd one out? 69 1015 814
814: it is 47A film lasts 60 minutes. Jo has watched 45 minutes. What fraction has she watched? Give it in its simplest form.
34
Simplify 612
12Simplify 2024
56Simplify 1830
35