Simplifying Fractions Using Equivalents

Maths: Year 5 & 6 National Curriculum, topic 5.6.1

Simplifying Fractions Using Equivalents

You need to use simplifying fractions in order to make your calculations easier.

$Simplifying fractions$

Simplifying fractions

You can simplify fractions by dividing the numerator (top number) and the denominator (bottom number) by the same amount.

Common factors

Common factors

You have to find a number that is a factor of both the numerator and the denominator.
A factor is a number that will divide another number with no remainder.

Find the common factors

Find the common factors

You need to divide the numerator and denominator by a common factor to simplify the fraction.
A common factor of 4 and 24 is 2.
A common factor of 5 and 15 is 5.
A common factor of 8 and 16 is 4.

Another common factor

Another common factor

You now need to work out if there is another common factor between the new numerator and denominator.
A common factor of 2 and 12 is 2.
There is no common factor of 1 and 6 (except for 1).
A common factor of 2 and 4 is 2.
There is no common factor of 1 and 2 (except for 1).

$Simplified fractions$

Simplified fractions

The final simplified fractions can be seen above.

Test yourself on Simplifying Fractions Using Equivalents

Which of these fractions is a simplified version of $\large\frac{8}{10}$ ?
Which of these fractions is a simplified version of $\large\frac{9}{12}$ ?
Which of these fractions is a simplified version of $\large\frac{6}{10}$ ?

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