# Simplifying Fractions

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Team Digital
Simplifying Fractions
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.NF.A.1

## In this Video

In this simplifying fractions video, Tank wants a part of his favorite chocolate bar, Succulent Sea Salt. Axel offers to share if Tank can answer his riddle. In this simplifying fractions lesson, we will learn the simplifying fractions definition and the simplifying fractions steps to help Tank solve the riddle and share a piece of the chocolate bar.

## How to Simplify Fraction

How do you simplify fractions? We simplify a fraction by dividing the numerator and denominator by the same number. Why do we simplify fractions? We simplify fractions to create equivalent fractions with fewer parts to make them easier to understand.

## Simplifying Fractions Examples

How do you simplify fractions step by step? First, we want to think of a common factor that both the numerator and denominator share. Next, we divide BOTH the numerator and denominator by that number.

## Follow Up Activities for Simplifying Fractions 4th Grade

Following the simplifying fraction steps video, there is additional simplifying fractions online information on how to simplify fractions easily with simplifying fractions practice exercises and a simplifying fractions worksheet.

### TranscriptSimplifying Fractions

“Hmmm….I know that sound!” "Mmmmm..." “That’s the sound of my favorite chocolate bar...Succulent Sea Salt!” “BOO!" “Whatcha doin’?” “May I have some, please?” “Sure,if you can solve this riddle.” "Would you rather have twelve-twenty-fourths of the chocolate bar or one-half?" “DEAL!” We can help Tank solve this riddle by “Simplifying Fractions.” Equivalent fractions are fractions that have different numerators and denominators... but are equal to one another because they have the same value. When we simplify fractions, we are making equivalent fractions. We simplify fractions with MANY parts into fractions with FEWER parts to make them easier to understand. Let’s use ten-twelfths as an example. First, we want to think of a common factor that BOTH the numerator and denominator share. What is a common factor of both ten and twelve? Two, since they are both even numbers, two is a factor they share. Next, we divide BOTH the numerator and denominator by two. Ten divided by two equals five. Twelve divided by two equals six. The simplified fraction is five-sixths. Is five-sixths equivalent to ten-twelfths? Yes, they have the same value... and, it’s easier to picture something divided into six parts than something that is divided into twelve parts. Let’s try another example. This fraction is six eighteenths. What is a common factor of both six and eighteen? Since they are both even, we know that they share a common factor of two. Next, we divide both numbers by two. What is six divided by two? Six divided by two equals three. What is eighteen divided by two? Eighteen divided by two is nine. What is the simplified fraction? Three-ninths. Three ninths and six-eighteenths are equivalent. Take another look at the three-ninths. What do you notice about the numerator, three, and the denominator, nine? Three and nine both have a common factor of THREE. We can simplify this fraction AGAIN. How do we simplify this fraction? We need to divide the numerator and denominator by three. What is the simplified fraction? The simplified fraction is one-third. Let’s compare all the fractions… Six-eighteenths, three -ninths, (.three-ninthshird are ALL equivalent. One-third is the easiest One-third is the easiest to understand. "Okay, here's Axel's riddle to solve." He was asked if he would rather have twelve-twenty fourths or one half of the chocolate bar. First, we'll take a look at the fraction twelve-twenty-fourths. What do we do first in order to simplify this fraction? Find a common factor of twelve and twenty-four. Since twelve and twenty-four have several common factors, how do we decide which factor to choose? If we choose the GREATEST common factor, we will only need to simplify our fraction one time. Let’s list all of the factors of twelve. One, two, three, four, six, twelve. Now list all the factors of twenty-four. One, two, three, four, six, eight, twelve, twenty-four. What is the greatest common factor that is in both groups? The greatest common factor is twelve. What is the next step? The next step is to divide both the numerator and denominator by twelve. What is the simplified fraction? The simplified fraction is ONE HALF! Let's compare that to the one-half from Axel's riddle... which is a unit fraction and already in simplest form. The twelve-twenty-fourths or one-half of Axel's chocolate bar are THE SAME! Remember, we simplify fractions with many parts into fewer parts so they are easier to understand. We simplify a fraction by dividing the numerator and denominator by a common factor that they both share. Sometimes they have more than one common factor, so we can divide the fractions more than once OR choose the GREATEST common factor. "May I have some, please?"

## Simplifying Fractions exercise

Would you like to apply the knowledge you’ve learned? You can review and practice it with the tasks for the video Simplifying Fractions .
• ### How much of each chocolate bar has been eaten?

Hints

Look for the bars that have the same amount eaten.

How could the numerator and the denominator of the above fraction be divided?

For example, if we divide the numerator and the denominator of $\frac{2}{4}$ by 2 we get $\frac{1}{2}$.

Solution

Here are the matching fractions.

____________

$\frac{2}{6}$ = $\frac{1}{3}$

• If we divide both the numerator and the denominator in $\frac{2}{6}$ by 2 we get $\frac{1}{3}$.
____________

$\frac{4}{8}$ = $\frac{1}{2}$

• If we divide both the numerator and the denominator in $\frac{4}{8}$ by 4 we get $\frac{1}{2}$.
____________

$\frac{2}{10}$ = $\frac{1}{5}$

• If we divide both the numerator and the denominator in $\frac{2}{10}$ by 2 we get $\frac{1}{5}$.
____________

$\frac{3}{12}$ = $\frac{1}{4}$

• If we divide both the numerator and the denominator in $\frac{3}{12}$ by 3 we get $\frac{1}{4}$.

• ### How much of each of these bars is white chocolate?

Hints

How many pieces of chocolate are there altogether? How many pieces are white? Write this as a fraction and then simplify it.

For example, this chocolate bar has 10 pieces altogether and 5 of them are white chocolate. That means $\frac{5}{10}$ are made from white chocolate. We could simplify $\frac{5}{10}$ to $\frac{1}{2}$ by dividing both the numerator and the denominator by 5.

Look at the bar and find the fraction that is white.

Solution

$\mathbf{\frac{1}{2}}$ of the first bar is made from white chocolate.

• 3 out of 6 squares are white chocolate therefore $\frac{3}{6}$ is made from white chocolate.
• If we divide the numerator and the denominator by 3 we get $\frac{1}{2}$.
$\mathbf{\frac{1}{4}}$ of the second bar is made from white chocolate.
• 2 out of 8 squares are white chocolate therefore $\frac{2}{8}$ is made from white chocolate.
• If we divide the numerator and the denominator by 2 we get $\frac{1}{4}$.
$\mathbf{\frac{2}{3}}$ of the third bar is made from white chocolate.
• 6 out of 9 squares are white chocolate therefore $\frac{6}{9}$ is made from white chocolate.
• If we divide both the numerator and the denominator by 3 we get $\frac{2}{3}$.
$\mathbf{\frac{5}{6}}$ of the fourth bar is made from white chocolate.
• 10 out of 12 squares are white chocolate therefore $\frac{10}{12}$ is made from white chocolate.
• If we divide both the numerator and the denominator by 2 we get $\frac{5}{6}$.

• ### Can you sort the chocolate bars?

Hints

Find the fraction of caramel chocolate each bar is made from. What can this fraction be simplified to?

For example, this bar is made up of $\frac{6}{8}$ caramel chocolate. If we divide both the numerator and denominator by two we get $\frac{3}{4}$ so we would highlight it in green.

Solution

These are the bars highlighted correctly.

$\mathbf{\frac{2}{3}}$

• 8 caramel squares and 4 milk squares. There are 12 squares altogether in this bar so $\frac{8}{12}$ is caramel. If we divide the numerator and the denominator by four we get $\frac{2}{3}$.
• 10 caramel squares and 5 milk squares. There are 15 squares altogether in this bar so $\frac{10}{15}$ is caramel. If we divide the numerator and the denominator by five we get $\frac{2}{3}$.
$\mathbf{\frac{3}{4}}$
• 9 caramel squares and 3 milk squares. There are 12 squares altogether in this bar so $\frac{9}{12}$ is caramel. If we divide the numerator and the denominator by three we get $\frac{3}{4}$.
• 12 caramel squares and 4 milk squares. There are 16 squares altogether in this bar so $\frac{12}{16}$ is caramel. If we divide the numerator and the denominator by four we get $\frac{3}{4}$.
• 15 caramel squares and 5 milk squares. There are 20 squares altogether in this bar so $\frac{15}{20}$ is caramel. If we divide the numerator and the denominator by five we get $\frac{3}{4}$.
$\mathbf{\frac{2}{5}}$
• 4 caramel squares and 6 milk squares. There are 10 squares altogether in this bar so $\frac{4}{10}$ is caramel. If we divide the numerator and the denominator by two we get $\frac{2}{5}$.
• 6 caramel squares and 9 milk squares. There are 15 squares altogether in this bar so $\frac{6}{15}$ is caramel. If we divide the numerator and the denominator by three we get $\frac{2}{5}$.

• ### How have these fractions been simplified?

Hints

What are common factors of the original numerator and denominator?

How many times can the simplified numerator fit into the original numerator?

Solution
• $\frac{8}{20}$ are blue. If we divide the numerator and the denominator by 4 we can say that $\frac{2}{5}$ are blue.
• $\frac{12}{15}$ are green. If we divide the numerator and the denominator by 3 we can say that $\frac{4}{5}$ are green.
• $\frac{10}{14}$ are brown. If we divide the numerator and the denominator by 2 we can say that $\frac{5}{7}$ are brown.
• $\frac{15}{25}$ are red. If we divide the numerator and the denominator by 5 we can say that $\frac{3}{5}$ are red.
• $\frac{14}{16}$ are purple. If we divide the numerator and the denominator by 2 we can say that $\frac{7}{8}$ are purple.
• ### How much of the bar has Tank eaten?

Hints
• How many pieces did the bar have at the beginning?
• How many pieces did Tank eat?
• Can you write this as a fraction?

The bar had 6 squares to start with and Tank has eaten 2. Therefore he has eaten $\frac{2}{6}$ of the bar. How could we simplify this fraction?

What are common factors of 2 and 6?

Solution

Tank ate $\mathbf{\frac{1}{3}}$ of the bar.

• The bar had 6 pieces.
• Tank ate 2 pieces so we can say he ate $\frac{2}{6}$ of the bar.
• If we divide both the numerator and the denominator of $\frac{2}{6}$ by 2 we get $\mathbf{\frac{1}{3}}$.
• ### Have these fractions been simplified correctly?

Hints

What are the common factors of the original numerator and denominator?

Use your knowledge of times tables to help you find mistakes.

Solution

This is where the highlighter should have gone.

• If we divide the numerator and the denominator in $\frac{16}{24}$ by 8 we get $\frac{2}{3}$ so this one was correct.
• If we divide the numerator and the denominator in $\frac{18}{21}$ by 3 we get $\frac{6}{7}$ not $\frac{5}{7}$ so this one was incorrect.
• If we divide the numerator and the denominator in $\frac{25}{30}$ by 5 we get $\frac{5}{6}$ so this one was correct.
• If we divide the numerator and the denominator in $\frac{6}{18}$ by 6 we get $\frac{1}{3}$ not $\frac{1}{4}$ so this one was incorrect.
• If we divide the numerator and the denominator in $\frac{12}{24}$ by 12 we get $\frac{1}{2}$ not $\frac{1}{3}$ so this one was incorrect.
• If we divide the numerator and the denominator in $\frac{13}{39}$ by 13 we get $\frac{1}{3}$ not $\frac{2}{3}$ so this one was incorrect.