How to Reduce Fractions in Math
Fractions are one of the backbones on which all mathematics is founded. Whenever there is a situation where only part of a whole is present, we can represent this with a fraction. For example, if we have one entire pizza cut into 8 equal slices, then the entire pizza can be represent with the fraction 8/8. However, if only 4 slices of pizza remain, this would be represented as the fraction 4/8. By reducing the fraction, we can also say that 1/2 of the pizza remains.
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Instructions
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1
Identify the numerator and denominator of the fraction that you are trying to reduce. The numerator is the top number, and the bottom number is the denominator. Generally the top number is smaller and the bottom number is larger; however, this is not always the case, and we will get into that phenomenon in a later step. For now we will work to reduce the fraction 15/35; 15 being the numerator and 35 being the denominator.
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2
Write down the factors of the numerator. A factor is any number that can be divided evenly into the number. So for our numerator of 15, the factors of the numerator would be; 1, 3, 5, and 15; because those are the only numbers that can be divided into 15 without having a remainder left over.
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Write down the factors of the denominator. The denominator we are using is 35, so write down all the numbers that go into 35 evenly. You should get 1, 5, 7, and 35.
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4
Identify the largest number that is a factor of both 15 and 35. In this case, the largest factor of 15 and 35 is the number 5. Now, knowing this, we can now reduce the fraction. divide both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction 15/35 by the number 5. After the fraction is reduced we are left with the fraction 3/7. 3/7 and 15/35 represent the same exact amount, however, 3/7 is the lowest, and therefore simplest, way to show this fraction.
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5
Reduce an improper fraction the same exact way as you did in the previous steps. An improper fraction is one where the numerator is larger than the denominator. Using the same numbers, if you had a fraction of 35/15, you would still reduce it by dividing both numbers by their greatest common factor. So you would be left with a reduced improper fraction of 7/3.
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