Simplifying Fractions

A fraction can name a part of a group or region. The region below is divided into 10 equal parts and 6 of the equal parts are shaded.

Two fractions that represent the same value are called equivalent fractions. You can find a fraction that is equivalent to a given fraction by multiplying the numerator and the denominator of the given fraction by the same nonzero number.

Exercises

Write five fractions that are equivalent to each fraction.

1. 4 7 4 sevenths
2. 9 16 9 sixteenths
3. 3 8 3 eighths
4. 8 17 8 seventeenths
5. 5 6 5 sixths
6. 7 10 7 tenths

Complete each statement.

7. 3 7 = 21 3 sevenths , equals , fraction begin box , , end box , over 21 end fraction
8. 5 8 = 20 5 eighths , equals , fraction 20 , over begin box , , end box end fraction
9. 11 12 = 44 11 over 12 , equals , fraction 44 , over begin box , , end box end fraction
10. 12 16 = 4 12 over 16 , equals , fraction begin box , , end box , over 4 end fraction
11. 50 100 = 1 50 over 100 , equals , fraction 1 , over begin box , , end box end fraction

Is each fraction in simplest form? If not, write the fraction in simplest form.

12. 4 12 4 twelfths
13. 3 16 3 sixteenths
14. 5 30 5 thirtieths
15. 9 72 9 seventy seconds
16. 11 22 11 over 22
17. 24 25 24 over 25

Write each fraction in simplest form.

18. 8 16 8 sixteenths
19. 7 14 7 fourteenths
20. 6 9 6 ninths
21. 20 30 20 over 30
22. 8 20 8 twentieths
23. 12 40 12 over 40

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