Let's start out with the general rule for simplifying fractions:
-- To simplify a fraction, look for a number that goes into the numerator and denominator (a common factor).
-- If you find one bigger than ' 1 ', then divide the numerator and the denominator by it.
-- Then try it again.
-- When you don't find any common factor except ' 1 ', then the fraction is in simplest form. _________________________________________
On your Practice 9-2 sheet:
#1). 5/10 ' 5 ' can go into both the numerator and the denominator, so divide them both by it. Then you have 1/2 .
#4). 3/15 ' 3 ' can go into both the numerator and the denominator, so divide them both by it. Then you have 1/5 .
#7). 2/18 ' 2 ' can go into both the numerator and the denominator, so divide them both by it. Then you have 1/9 .
#8). 25/60 ' 5 ' can go into both the numerator and the denominator, so divide them both by it. Then you have 5/12 .
#9). 12/72 ' 2 ' can go into both the numerator and the denominator, so divide them both by it. Then you have 6/36 .
That's not the simplest form yet. ' 2 ' can go into both the numerator and the denominator again, so divide them both by it. Then you have 3/18 .
That's STILL not the simplest form. ' 3 ' can still go into both the numerator and the denominator, so divide them both by it. Then you have 1/6 . That's the simplest form.
#11). The fraction of the test that will be word problems is
(the number of word problems) divided by (the total number of questions on the test) .
The total number of problems on the test is (20 + 10 + 5) = 35 .
So the word problems will be 5/35 of the test. Simplify that.
Do EVERYTHING on this sheet the same way. This sheet is nothing but 14 different problems in simplifying fractions.
