Question

Nicholas wrote the steps below to simplify the fraction 20/30. Find his error and correct it.

Answer 1

He does not divide the numerator and the denominator by the same number. Nicholas divides 20 by 5 and 30 by 6. He ought to have divided 30 by 5 as well and then simplified.

P.S. Nicholas should have just divided both 20 and 30 by 10 to simplify in one step.

Answer 2

Hi there! :D

Let's simplify this together first! 

20/30

We can divide both sides by 5 since both are divisible by 5.

You would divide both sides by 5. 

20÷5= 4
30÷5=6

4/6, we can divide it by 2 to get: 2/3 <== that is the simplest fraction. 

Nicholas' error was that he divided 20 by 5 and then 30 by 6. You would divide both by 5. You would change:

30÷6=5 to 30÷5=6

I hope this helps!
~kaikers