WRITING FRACTIONS IN SIMPLEST FORM

The simplest form of a fraction is $\,\displaystyle\frac{N}{D}\,$, where $\,N\,$ and $\,D\,$ have no common factors (except $\,1\,$).

Thus, in simplest form, there is no number other than $\,1\,$ that goes into both the numerator and denominator evenly.

EXAMPLES:
Question: Write in simplest form:   $\displaystyle\frac{6}{15}$
Solution:
The fraction $\,\frac{6}{15}\,$ is not in simplest form, because $\,6\,$ and $\,15\,$ have a common factor of $\,3\,$.
To simplify the fraction, use the following thought process:
• $6\,\,\,$ divided by $\,3\,$ is $\,2\,$   (the new numerator is $\,2\,$)
• $15\,$ divided by $\,3\,$ is $\,5\,$   (the new denominator is $\,5\,$)
• Thus, $\,\frac{6}{15} = \frac{2}{5}\,$.
• Since $\,2\,$ and $\,5\,$ have no common factor other than $1$, the simplest form of $\,\frac{6}{15}\,$ is $\,\frac{2}{5}\,$.
Note:
$\displaystyle\frac{6}{15} \ \ = \ \ \frac{3\cdot 2}{3\cdot 5} \ \ = \ \ \frac{3}{3}\cdot\frac{2}{5} \ \ = \ \ 1\cdot\frac{2}{5} \ \ = \ \ \frac{2}{5}\,$
Thus, simplifying a fraction is just getting rid of extra factor(s) of $\,1\,$.
Question: Write in simplest form:   $\frac{2}{6}$
Answer: $\frac{1}{3}$
In the exercises below, you will input fractions using a forward diagonal slash.
For example, $\,\frac{1}{3}\,$ is input as  1/3 .
Master the ideas from this section