IS IT SIMPLIFIED??????

For my students this seems to be the million dollar question. Is it simplified? I don't know, is it?

There are ways to know if a number is simplified. You have to be on the lookout for the following things:

• Is there a prime number in the fraction? (is the numerator or denominator prime)
• Is the fraction made up of a even number and an odd number?

If the answer to either of these is NO, then the fraction is simplified.

• Are the numerator and denominator both even?
• Are the numerator and denominator both odd?
• Is there a common factor between the numerator and the denominator?

If the answer to either of these is YES, then the fraction is NOT simplified.

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Simplifying means you are creating an equivalent fraction using the simplest terms possible. This means you are creating the same fraction using smaller numbers. To do this you will always divide. You will first have to find a factor that is common to the numerator and the denominator. Next you will divide the numerator and denominator by the common factor. To make sure it is completely simplied go through the questions above. If the fraction is not simplified you will need to find another common fraction to divide by until the fraction is completely simplified.

*You will find that if you use the largest common factor that the fraction will be simplified much quicker.*