Question

I need step by step how to simplify a fraction

Answer 1

Divide the numerator and the denominator by the same number, which must be a common factor of both the numerator and the denominator. For example, to simplify the fraction 14/49, divide the numerator and the denominator by 7 to obtain the simplified fraction 2/7.
You check whether the numerator and the denominator of the fraction have any common factor. If they do, you divide numerator and denominator by this factor. For example, in the fraction 8/12, the greatest common factor is 4. If you divide top and bottom by 4, you get the equivalent fraction 2/3. (Instead of finding the GREATEST common factor, in this case you can also divide top and bottom by 2 first, then check the result, to see whether there are additional common factors.)

Answer 2

An easy Example is this

12/24 = 2/4 = 1/2

So you find a common factor of both of them and you ask yourself how many times does x go into the numerator and denominator.

So in the example above

Plug in 6 for 12/24

6 goes into 12 2 times and 24 4 times.

then you can simplify that further by plugging 2

2 goes into 2 1 time and 2 goes into 4 2 times. therefore leaving you with 1/2

thats how you simplify a fraction.

Answer 3

But when is a fraction like this 4 1/8 - 2 1/2 I need to simplify this..