Lesson

Key Concepts 5-3

Simplifying Fractions and Ratios
Objective Review the notion of equivalent fractions, and teach students
how to find the simplest form of a fraction.

Note to the Teacher Although this lesson teaches only a procedure

for finding the simplest form of a fraction, it is important to review the
idea of equivalent fractions, which is the underlying concept.

Equivalent Fractions
Point out that sometimes different fractions (with different numerators
and denominators) represent the same number. Fractions that name
the same number are called equivalent fractions. For example, the
4
fraction
equals 2, since when we divide 4 units into two equal parts,
2
6
each part contains 2 units. In the same way, the fraction
also
3
4 6
equals 2. The fractions
and
are equivalent fractions.
2 3

2 4
Example 1 Are

3
and

6
equivalent?

Solution We can model the fractions, using a separate rectangle for

each one. It is very important that the two rectangles be the
same size.
2 4
3
: 6
:

Notice that the same portion of the whole rectangle is

shaded in both cases. This indicates that the fractions are
equivalent. Another way to view this is to recognize that
each of the parts (each third) of the rectangle on the left
corresponds to exactly two parts (which are sixths) of the
rectangle on the right. So the two shaded thirds of the left
rectangle are exactly the same as the four shaded sixths of
the right rectangle.

Point out to students that we do not always want to draw rectangles

to compare fractions, because the denominators in the fractions
might be quite large. Suggest that we need a procedure for
comparing fractions that does not require the use of a model.

© Glencoe/McGraw-Hill 30 Lesson 5-3

 If one of two fractions can be obtained by multiplying both
the numerator and the denominator of the other by the same
Key Idea whole number, then the two fractions are equivalent.
32 6 3 6
Since 
52

,
10
the fractions 
5
and 
10
are equivalent.

Why Is This True?

2
Refocus students’ attention on Example 1, where the fractions  and
3
4
 were modeled. Point out that the total number of smaller rectangles
6
in each model is the denominator in the fraction it represents, and
that the number of shaded rectangles is the numerator of the fraction.
4
Emphasize that the model for  can be formed by copying the model
6
2
for  and splitting each of the three smaller rectangles in half. Stress
3
2
that the act of splitting each rectangle in the model for  in half is
3
representative of multiplying both the numerator (the number of
shaded smaller rectangles) and the denominator (the total number of
smaller rectangles) by 2.
2 22 4

3


32


6

Here are some examples.

5 53 15
• 
7
and 
73


21
represent the same number.

4 46 24
• 
19
and 
19  6


114
represent the same number.

6 6  10 60
• 
7
and 
7  10


70
represent the same number.

What these examples show is that if we multiply both the numerator

and the denominator of a fraction by the same number, we obtain an
equivalent fraction. In the same way, suppose for a given fraction,
there is a whole number that divides both the numerator and the
denominator evenly. Then the fraction that results is equivalent to
the original fraction.
4 42 2

6


62


3

© Glencoe/McGraw-Hill 31 Lesson 5-3

 Here are some examples.

• The number 8 divides both the numerator and the denominator of

8
the fraction  evenly. When we divide 8 by 8, we get 1; when we
24
8 1
divide 24 by 8, we get 3. This means that  and  are equivalent
24 3
fractions.
10 10  5 2
• 
25
and 
25  5


5
are equivalent fractions.

14 14  7 2
• 
49
and 
49  7


7
are equivalent fractions.

Simplest Form of a Fraction

We say that a fraction is in simplest form when its numerator and
denominator have no common factors other than 1. For example, the
3 4 2 1
fractions  ,  ,  , and  are all in simplest form, but the fractions
5 7 9 11
2 3 16 30
 ,  ,  , and  are not in simplest form.
4 9 24 36

Tell students that to simplify a fraction:

• they should divide its numerator and its denominator by any
whole number that is a factor of both numbers;
• they should then look at the numerator and denominator of the
resulting equivalent fraction to see if there is another whole
number that evenly divides both numerator and denominator; and
• if so, they should do the division and examination steps again and
again until the only number that divides both numerator and
denominator is 1. When the only common factor is 1, the fraction
is in simplest form.

30
Example 2 Express

75
in simplest form.

Solution The number 5 is a common factor of the numerator and

30  5 6
denominator. So, an equivalent fraction is 
75  5

.
15
But
3 is a common factor of 6 and 15, so another equivalent
63 2
fraction is 
15  3

 . Since the only common
5
factor of 2 and
2
5 is 1, the fraction  is in simplest form.
5

© Glencoe/McGraw-Hill 32 Lesson 5-3

 28
Example 3 Express

42
in simplest form.

28 28  7 4
Solution 
42


42  7


6
7 is a common factor of 28 and 42.

4 42 2

6


62


3
2 is a common factor of 4 and 6.

28 2
The fraction  expressed in simplest form is .
42 3

Stress that there is just one simplest form for any given fraction.
This means that if two fractions have the same simplest form, then
they are equivalent.

There is a systematic procedure for finding the simplest form of a

fraction. To express a fraction in simplest form:
• find the greatest common factor (GCF) of the numerator and the
denominator,
• divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF, and then
• write the resulting fraction.

21
Example 4 Find the simplest form of
.
56

Solution Step 1 Find the GCF of 21 and 56.

The factors of 21 are 1, 3, 7, and 21. The factors of
56 are 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 14, 28, and 56. So, the GCF of 21
and 56 is 7.
Step 2 Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF.
21 21  7 3

56


56  7


8

Step 3 Write the resulting fraction.

21 3
The simplest form of the fraction  is .
56 8

Note to the Teacher The same procedure shown in this lesson

works when dealing with ratios. Give students some problems that are
stated in terms of ratios as well as in terms of fractions.

End of
Lesson

© Glencoe/McGraw-Hill 33 Lesson 5-3