Fractions Made Easy 177
Let’s try one more.(^2) + (^3) = 16 + 15 = 31
5 8 40 40
Simplifying answers
In each of these examples, the answer we got was the fi nal answer.
Let’s try another example to see one more step we need to take to
complete the calculation.
(^1) + (^2) = 9 + 6 (^) = 15
3 9 27 27
We have the correct answer, but can the answer be simplifi ed?
If both the numerator and denominator are even, we can divide them
by 2 to get a simpler answer. For example, ⁄ could be simplifi ed to
½ because both 4 and 8 are divisible by 4.
We see with the above answer of ⁄ that 15 and 27 can’t
be divided by 2, but they are both evenly divisible by 3
(15 ÷ 3 = 5 and 27 ÷ 3 = 9).
Th e answer of ⁄ can be simplifi ed to ⁄
Each time you calculate fractions, you should give the answer in its
simplest form. Check to see if the numerator and denominator are
both divisible by 2, 3 or 5, or any other number. If so, divide them
to give the answer in its simplest form. For instance, ½ would
become ¾ (21 ÷ 7 = 3 and 28 ÷ 7 = 4).
Let’s try another example, ⅔ + ¾.
(^2) + (^3) = 8 + 9 = 17
3 4 12 12
In this example the top number (numerator) is larger than the
bottom number (denominator). When this is the case, we have to
cc18.indd Sec1:177 18 .indd Sec 1 : 177 1/9/07 8:40:36 AM 1 / 9 / 07 8 : 40 : 36 AM