Reducing Fractions

To reduce a fraction divide the numerator and denominator by the same number. Keep doing this until the only number both the numerator and denominator will divide by is one.

Example 1: Reduce 2/4 to lowest terms

2	/	2		1
---		---	=	---
4	/	2		2

Click on picture for sample of reducing two fourths to one half.

You can divide both terms by 2 to get to lowest terms.

Example 2: Reduce 6/12 to lowest terms

6	/	2		3
---		---	=	---
12	/	2		6

You can divide both terms by 2.

3	/	3		1
---		---	=	---
6	/	3		2

Then in the fraction 3/6 both terms can be divided by 3.

Click on image to see three sixths reduced to one half.

Then you can divide by 3. It took two steps to get to lowest terms.

OR

6	/	6		1
---		---	=	---
12	/	6		2

You could have divided both terms by 6 and got to lowest terms in one step.

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