8 2 In Simplest Form

What is Simplest Form?

A fraction is not a whole number simply a number in betwixt the whole numbers. It is a function of a whole. As well, a fraction has two parts – a numerator and a denominator.

When the numerator and the denominator can no longer be reduced to any smaller number separately, nosotros get the fraction in its simplest form.

For example,

^three⁄_half-dozen tin can exist simplified every bit :

In the given example, we obtain the simplified course by dividing the numerator and denominator past 3, the greatest number that divides both the numbers exactly (reducing them into another whole number).

Thus, finding the simplest form of a fraction means reducing the top and bottom of the fraction to the smallest whole number possible.

Fun Facts
one. The simplest form is the smallest possible equivalent fraction of the number.

Steps for finding the simplest form:

Search for common factors in the numerator and denominator.
Bank check whether ane of the numbers in the fraction is a prime number.

(Revise your knowledge: A prime is a number which has but ii factors one and itself. )

Split past a fraction equivalent to 1. (Multiplying would make the original fraction larger, which is not what we want when simplifying.) For case,ⁱⁱ⁄_ii,³⁄_iii,^x⁄_x, or^five⁄₅ are all equivalent to 1.

For instance,

Jenny has a chocolate cake which she has cutting into 6 pieces. She shares this equally with vii other friends, which makes a total of 8 persons.

So that leaves Jenny with a fraction⁶⁄₈. Can this be any simpler?

None of the numbers (the top and bottom of this fraction) is a prime number.

Let'south look at the common factors :

6 → 2,3,6

8 → 2,4,eight

So 2 is a mutual factor of the numerator and denominator.