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A Fraction is said to
be in
"Lowest Terms"
when there is no longer a Common Factor
between the numerator and denominator.
To
reduce to Lowest Terms
follow this:
3-Step
Check to Reducing
1. Does
the 'smaller' number go into the 'larger' number evenly?
Yes--
then go ahead and do it,
then go through the 3-step Check again.
No-- Go
to next step.
2. Are
both numbers (numerator and denominator) even?
Yes--
then divide each by 2,
then go through the 3-step Check again.
No--
Go to next step.
3. Is
there a number that will go into
the numerator and denominator evenly
(known as the Common Factor)?
Yes--
then divide both
numerator and denominator by that number.
No--
If you have said
"No" to all 3 steps,
then the fraction is at lowest terms.
"1.
No, 2. No, 3. No" means fraction is at Lowest Terms
Do
You Get It ?
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Example 1:
The fraction is 21/28
Following the "3-Step Check":
1. No, the 21 doesn't go into
the 28.
2. No, 21 and 28 are
NOT both EVEN. 21 is ODD.
3. Yes, the Greatest Common Factor of 21
and 28 is 7.
7 will go into 21, 3
times.
7 will go into 28, 4
times.
21/28 can reduce to
3/4
Then going through the "3-Step Check" for 3/4
You would say "No, No, No" to Steps 1-3,
Meaning that 3/4
is at Lowest Terms.
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Example 2:
The fraction is 12/16
Following the "3-Step Check":
1. No, the 12 doesn't go into
the 16.
2. Yes, 12 and 16 are
both EVEN.
12 ÷ 2 = 6
16 ÷ 2 = 8
Meaning-
12/16 can reduce to
6/8
Then going through the "3-Step Check" for 6/8
You would see that also Even,
6 ÷ 2 = 3
8 ÷ 2 = 4
Meaning-
6/8
can reduce to 3/4
Then going through the "3-Step Check" for 3/4
You would say "No, No, No" to Steps 1-3,
Meaning that 3/4
is at Lowest Terms.
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Example 3:
The fraction is 3/15
Following the "3-Step Check":
1. Yes, the 3 does go into the
15.
5 times; and
into itself 1 times
So,
3/15 can reduce to
1/5
Then going through the "3-Step Check" for 1/5
You would say "No, No, No" to Steps 1-3,
Meaning that 1/5
is at Lowest Terms.
Hint, Hint--- whenever there is a 1
for a numerator or denominator,
you have reached Lowest Terms.
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Upon further review:
A fraction
should be reduced to
Lowest Terms.
To do this
follow the simple
"3-Step Check" to Reducing
Let's
Practice
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