Simplifying Ratios
Maths: Year 5 & 6 National Curriculum, topic 6.1.2
Simplifying Ratios
You can also simplify a ratio by using division. You need to find a common factor in both parts of the ratio to simplify it.
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8 : 40
- The ratio 8 : 40 can be simplified.
- You need to find a common factor to divide both 8 and 40 by.
- A common factor is a number which divides into both numbers without any remainders.
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8 and 40 are in the 4× table
- 8 and 40 are both in the 4× table.
- 4 is a common factor of 8 and 40.
- You can divide both sides by 4 to simplify to ratio to 2 : 10.
- Remember you have to do the same calculation to both sides of the ratio.
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Take it further
- Can you simplify 2 : 10 even further?
- You need to find out if there is a common factor of 2 and 10
- 2 and 10 are both in the 2× table.
- 2 is a common factor of 2 and 10
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Divide by 2
- You can divide both sides by 2 to simplify to ratio to 1 : 5.
- Remember you have to do the same calculation to both sides of the ratio.
Can you simplify further?
- 1 is the only common factor of 1 and 5.
- Dividing by 1 wouldn't change the numbers in the ratio.
- 1 : 5 is as simple as the ratio will get.
- The ratio 8 : 40 can be simplified to 1 : 5.