How to Reduce Fractions Videos
Step 1: Find a Common Factor
Find the largest common factor of both the numerator and the
denominator. The common factor is a
number that will divide into both of the numbers. It is important that you find
the largest common factor in order to reduce the fraction completely. You will
know that the common factor is not large enough if, after having reduced them, you can still find common factors to divide into them.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SOmHH1mwe8
Step 2: Divide the Numerator and Denominator
Now that you know what the largest common factor is for both
the numerator and the denominator, divide both of them by it. For example, for
the fraction 4/8, divide both the numerator “4” and the denominator “8” by 4.
4/4 = 1, and 8/4 = 2, so the result is ½.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SOmHH1mwe8
Step 3: Check Your Work
Now that you have done the computation, check to make sure that you did the problem correctly and cannot reduce the fraction further. According to math expert and textbook author Charles McKeague, it is important to practice working problems every day. This includes verifying the answers. http://books.google.com/books?id=rlGnbjcFswAC&pg=PR15&lpg=PR15&dq=mckeague+check+your+work&source http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gATyxfjIFPM
Review the numerator and denominator for any possible numbers that could divide
into both. For example, if you reduced the fraction 4/8 to 2/4 by dividing both
numerator and denominator by 2, then you would not have reduced the fraction
completely. You could still divide both by 2 again.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SOmHH1mwe8
Other Related Mahalo Math Videos
Continue to learn by following along with some more great Mahalo Math videos below.
How to Find the Area of a Triangle
How to Calculate Pi
How to Convert Fractions into Decimals
How to Subtract Fractions
How to Multiply Fractions
How to Divide Fractions
How to Convert Percents to Decimals
How to Do Long Division
How to Find Radius and Diameter
References
Meet Our Experts
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Julie Clark
Julie Clark is a high school math teacher with over seven years of classroom experience. Clark is also a motivational speaker with the "Making It Count" program, speaking at a number of schools across 11 states and reaching over 10,000 students. Julie says that her favorite thing about teaching math is "getting that light bulb to go off for the student that 'doesn't get' or 'hates' math."
Experts Cited in this Article
Charles P. "Pat" McKeague is the CEO of XYZ Textbooks and the founder of MathTV.com. After earning his master's degree in mathematics from Brigham Young University, he taught math at the high school and 2-year college level. In 1985 McKeague resigned his full-time teaching position to become a textbook author. He taught calculus and differential equations at Cal Poly State University, and worked with the American Mathematics Association for Two-Year College Beyond Crossroads project to establish math instruction standards. McKeague speaks regularly at regional and national mathematics conferences on a variety of math-related topics.http://www.xyztextbooks.com/about_us.html
Elizabeth Stapel is the founder of Purplemath.com, listed on Schoolzone's webguide of recommended sites and Homeschool.com's "Top 100" Web sites. After earning a master's degree in mathematics from Washington University, Stapel taught middle school, high school, and college students within a variety of educational settings including Washington University, Sylvan Learning Center, and Arizona State University.http://www.purplemath.com/resume.htm
Tips for Dividing Decimals
- Remember to find the greatest common factor of both numbers first.
- Divide both the numerator and denominator by the greatest common factor.
- Check your work by making certain the fractions cannot be reduced further.
Fractions Background
Reducing fractions involves making them smaller by finding a number common to both the numerator and the denominator and dividing both by it. This common number is referred to as a “common factor” of the numerator and the denominator.http://www.sosmath.com/algebra/fraction/frac3/frac33/frac33.html
Fractions are numerical representations of the quotient of two numbers. The quotient is simply the number resulting from dividing one number by the other.http://www.sosmath.com/algebra/fraction/frac3/frac33/frac33.html According to Elizabeth Stapel, the number 1 is an important part of beginning to understand fractions. Any number divided by itself is just 1. This basic fact is essential to reducing fractions.http://www.purplemath.com/modules/fraction.htm
Fractions can be used to represent ratios, such as pi (22/7), which is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. If the numerator and the denominator of a fraction are both either divided by the same number or multiplied by the same number, the fraction's value does not change. These fractions, although having different numbers, share the same ratio and are called “equivalent fractions.”http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/sets/select/dm_fractions_reduce.html
