The Lesson
Equivalent fractions are
fractions that show the same part of the whole, even though they look different.
Examples of Equivalent Fractions
The following fractions are all equivalent to
1/
2 (one half):
They represent the same part of the whole, but have a different top number (called the
numerator) and a different bottom number (called the
denominator).
How to Find Equivalent Fractions
You can make equivalent fractions by
multiplying or
dividing the numerator and denominator by the same number.
The bottom number of our fraction (called the
denominator) is 4. It tells us to divide the cake into 4 equal parts.
In our example above, equivalent fractions of ½ are found by multiplying
both the numerator and denominator by 2.
Simplifying (or Reducing) Fractions
Just as equivalent fractions can be found by multiplying both top and bottom by the same number, equivalent fractions can also be found by dividing top and bottom by the same number.
This is called
cancelling. It simplifies (or reduces) fractions.
In our example above, equivalent fractions are found by dividing
both the numerator and denominator by 2.
Read more about simplifying fractions
Simplest Form
A fraction is in its simplest form if the top and bottom numbers cannot be made any smaller by cancelling (while still being whole numbers).
The simplest form of a fraction is the equivalent fraction with the smallest possible numbers.
What Is a Fraction?
A
fraction is a part of a whole number.
Fractions consist of a
numerator and a
denominator.
There are three different types of fractions:
Visualizing Equivalent and Simplest Fractions
Fractions can be visualized as a cake cut into equal slices.
Using this method, equivalent fractions can be visualized. The three fractions below are equivalent:
The top cake shows the simplest fraction, as there are the fewest slices.
What Is a Multiple?
A
multiple is the result of multiplying a number by an
integer.
For example, the multiples of 3 are:
What Is a Factor?
A
factor is a number or symbol which divides exactly into another number.
For example, the factors of 10 are:
What Is the Greatest Common Factor?
The greatest common factor is the largest factor that is common to two or more numbers.
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