# 5.07 Simplify fractions

Lesson

## Ideas

Do you know how to find an  equivalent fraction  ?

### Examples

#### Example 1

Fill in the blank to find an equivalent fraction to \dfrac{1}{3}:

\dfrac{1}{3}= \dfrac{⬚}{6}

Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Use fraction area models.

Apply the idea

On the left of the equals sign we have \dfrac{1}{3} which looks like this.

1 out of the 3 squares are shaded. We want to write this as a fraction of 6. Dividing the model into 6 parts would look like this.

We can see that 2 out of 6 parts are shaded to get the same area. So:

Reflect and check

We also could have multiplied the numerator and denominator by 2 since 3\times 2=6.

Idea summary

Equivalent fractions look different but have the same value.

You need to multiply or divide both the numerator and the denominator of a fraction by the same number to work out the equivalent fraction.

## Simplify fractions

How can we simplify fractions? This video shows us how.

### Examples

#### Example 2

Simplify the fraction \dfrac{14}{21}.

Worked Solution
Create a strategy

To simplify fractions, we need to divide the numerator and denominator by the same number.

Apply the idea

14 and 21 have a common factor of 7. So we can divide both by 7.

2 and 3 only have a common factor of 1. So the fraction is simplified.

\dfrac{14}{21}=\dfrac{2}{3}

Idea summary

To simplify a fraction, we want to make the numerator and denominator smaller. To do that, we need to divide them both by a common factor.

### Outcomes

#### VCMNA211

Compare fractions with related denominators and locate and represent them on a number line