Simplifying fractions

©Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University

Strategies

• What ever you do to the top you do to the bottom

• Look for something common between top and bottom

• Try halving• Try dividing by 10, 5, 3 ….

©Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University

6/10

610

= 610

35

=

÷ 2Both may be halved

÷ 2

÷ 2Cannot simplify any more

©Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University

80/100

80100

= 810

45

=

÷ 2

Both may be divided by 2

÷ 2

÷ 2Cannot simplify any more÷ 10

Both may be divided by 10

80100

810

=

÷ 10

÷ 10

©Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University

10/25

1025

= 1025

25

=

÷ 5

Both may be divided by 5

÷ 5

÷ 5Cannot simplify any more

©Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University

21/28

2128

= 2128

34

=

÷ 7

Both may be divided by 7

÷ 7

÷ 7Cannot simplify any more

©Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University