© 2007 M. Tallman

© 2007 M. Tallman

Which would you prefer…

…or 100 pennies?…carrying around a 1 dollar bill…

Even though they are both equal, a dollar bill is more

“simple” because it is 1 piece

(compared to 100).

© 2007 M. Tallman

21

42

63

84

105= = = =

212121 4

1

41

4141

4141

61

61

61

6161

6161

6161

81

81

818

1

8181

8181

81818

181

101

10110

1

101

101

101

101

101

10110

1101

101

101

101

101

These fractions are equal. However, one is “more simple”. Which one do you think is in simplest

form?

½ is in simplest form, since it has fewer pieces.

© 2007 M. Tallman

31

62

93

124

155

31

61

61

121

121

121

121

151

151

151

151

151

91

91

91

Which fraction is in

simplest form?

is in simplest form,

since it has fewer pieces.

31

© 2007 M. Tallman

41

82

123

= =

41

121

12112

1

818

1

Which one do you think is in simplest form?

¼ is in simplest form, since it has fewer pieces.

© 2007 M. Tallman

31

31

313131

313131

61

61

61

61

616161

616161

616161

616161

91

91

91

919

1

91

919191

919191

919191

9191919

19191

919191

121

121

121 12

1121121

12112

1

121121121

121121121

121121121 12

1121121

121121121121121121

12112112112

1121121

32

64

96

128

Which one do you think

is in simplest

form? is in

simplest form, since it has

fewer pieces.

32

© 2007 M. Tallman

53

106

159

Which fraction is in

simplest form?

is in simplest form,

since it has fewer pieces.

53

51

51

51

101

101

101

101

101

101

151

151

151

151

151

151

151

151

151

© 2007 M. Tallman

Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator.

Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF.

41

41

1=42

22

2÷GCF: 2

When the numerator and

the denominator are the same, the fraction

equals 1 whole.

Dividing any number by one

does not change the value.

Example: 9 ÷ 1 = 9

= 21

© 2007 M. Tallman

Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator.

Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF .

1=126

66

2÷GCF: 6

= 21

121 12

1121121

12112

1

© 2007 M. Tallman

Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator.

Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF.

2=104

22

5÷GCF: 2

101

101

101

101

51

51

© 2007 M. Tallman

Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator.

Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF.

3=86

22

4÷GCF: 2

=81

81

818

1818

1

41

41

41

© 2007 M. Tallman

Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator.

Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF.

3=159

33

5÷GCF: 3

151

151

151

151

151

151

151

151

151

51

51

51

© 2007 M. Tallman

28Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator.

Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF .

Use the GCF to simplify the fraction.

27

44

8 ÷ =GCF: 4

© 2007 M. Tallman

21Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator.

Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF.

Use the GCF to simplify the fraction.

13

77

7 ÷ =GCF: 7

© 2007 M. Tallman

8Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator.

Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF.

Use the GCF to simplify the fraction.

34

22

6 ÷ =GCF: 2

© 2007 M. Tallman

35Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator.

Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF.

Use the GCF to simplify the fraction.

27

55

10÷ =GCF: 5

© 2007 M. Tallman

30Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator.

Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF.

Use the GCF to simplify the fraction.

35

66

18÷ =GCF: 6

© 2007 M. Tallman

18Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator.

Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF.

Use the GCF to simplify the fraction.

56

33

15÷ =GCF: 3

© 2007 M. Tallman

16Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator.

Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF.

Use the GCF to simplify the fraction.

14

44

4 ÷ =GCF: 4