Simplifying fractions - Make the numbers smaller

$You can simplify a large numbered fraction to much smaller numbers and it would mean the same thing$

Which is the simpler fraction

Simplify fractions divide top and bottom by:
First 2, then 3, then 4, then 5.........
until you can't go any further.

NOTE:

The outcome of each division must be a whole number.

Example 1

Simplify the fraction $36/48$

Keep dividing by $2$ first

$(36div2)/(48div2)=(18div2)/(24div2)=9/12larr9$ won't divide by $2$

Now keep dividing by $3$

$(9div3)/(12div3)=3/4$ This won't divide down any further

Answer: $36/48$ simplified is $3/4$

Example 2

Simplify $26/39$

Keep dividing by $2$ first

$26/39$ won't divide by $2$

Now keep dividing by $3rarr$ won't divide by $3$

Now keep dividing by $4rarr$ won't divide by $4$

All the way up to

Now keep dividing by $13$

$(26div13)/(39div13)=2/3$ This won't divide down any further

Answer: $26/39$ simplified $=2/3$

Example 3

Simplify the fraction $90/144$

Keep dividing by $2$ first

$(90div2)/(144div2)=45/72larr9$ won't divide by $2$ any more.

Now keep dividing by $3$

$(45div3)/(72div3)=(15div3)/(24div3)=5/8$ This won't divide down any further

Answer: $90/144$ simplified is $5/8$

Example 4

Simplify $3200/8000$

Take off the obvious $100$

$(3200div100)/(8000div100)=32/80$

Now keep dividing by $2$ first

$(32div2)/(80div2)=(16div2)/(40div2)=(8div2)/(20div2)=(4div2)/(10div2)=2/5$

$2/5$ won't divide down any further.

Answer: $3200/8000$ simplified is $2/5$

Example 5

Simplify $10/40$

The first number we can divide by is $2$

$(10div2)/(40div2)=5/20larr$ won't divide by $2$ any more.

This can now be divided by $5$

$(5div5)/(20div5)=1/4$ This won't divide down any further.

Answer: $10/40$ simplified is $1/4$