Is It Simplified All the Way?
Ask: Can the top and bottom both divide by the same number?
How to check
- Try 2. Are both numbers even?
- Try 3. Can both divide by 3?
- Try 5. Do both end in 0 or 5?
- Try any number you know works for both.
Why not 4, 6, 8 or 9? If one of those goes into both, then 2 or 3 does too. You will catch it when you check again.
Important:
Divide the TOP and BOTTOM by the SAME number.
Example: keep going
936÷ 3 →312
Not done!
3 and 12 can still both divide by 3.
312÷ 3 →14
Done!
The simple loop
- Find a number that divides BOTH the top and bottom.
- Divide the top and bottom by that SAME number.
- Check again.
- Stop when no number bigger than 1 works for both.