Write fractions in lowest terms

Learning Objectives Define 'lowest terms' and explain why it is useful. Identify the common factors of a fraction's numerator and denominator. Find the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) for the numerator and denominator. Simplify a fraction by dividing the numerator and denominator by their GCF. Recognize when a fraction is already in its lowest terms. Show that a simplified fraction is equivalent to the original fraction. If you eat 4 slices of a pizza cut into 8 pieces, did you know that's the same as eating half the pizza? 🍕 Let's find out how! In this lesson, you will learn how to write fractions in their simplest form, which we call 'lowest terms'. This makes fractions much easier to understand, compare, and work with. It's like givi...

TermDefinitionExample FractionA number that shows a part of a whole or a part of a group.1/4 means 1 part out of 4 equal parts. Equivalent FractionsFractions that look different but have the exact same value.2/4, 3/6, and 4/8 are all equivalent to 1/2. FactorA number that divides into another number exactly, with no remainder.The factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12. Common FactorA factor that two or more numbers have in common.For the numbers 8 and 12, the common factors are 1, 2, and 4. Greatest Common Factor (GCF)The biggest factor that two or more numbers share.For 8 and 12, the GCF is 4. Lowest Terms (or Simplest Form)A fraction is in lowest terms when its numerator and denominator have no common factors other than 1.The fraction 3/4 is in lowest terms, but 6/8 is not.

The Golden Rule of Fractions (a ÷ c) / (b ÷ c) = a/b To keep a fraction equivalent, whatever you do to the numerator (top number), you must also do to the denominator (bottom number). To simplify, we divide both by the same common factor. The GCF Method a/b = (a ÷ GCF(a,b)) / (b ÷ GCF(a,b)) The fastest way to write a fraction in lowest terms is to divide both the numerator and the denominator by their Greatest Common Factor (GCF). This simplifies the fraction in just one step.