- 1). Draw a number line with plenty of space between zero and one.
- 2). Divide the number line into equal sections of the number in the denominator (bottom) of the fraction. For example, if the fraction you want to simplify is 10/15, divide the number line into 15 equal sections.
- 3). Fill in the number line or draw a dot at the number in the numerator (top) of the fraction. If you are using the fraction 10/15, fill in 10 of the 15 sections.
- 4). Analyze the fraction to determine the greatest common factor, or the largest number that will divide evenly into both the numerator and denominator. For example, 5 is the greatest common factor of 10 and 15.
- 5). Take the greatest common factor and make a large mark after that number of sections. For example, the greatest common factor of 10/15 is 5, so make a large mark after every five sections on the number line. This will in effect divide the space between 0 and 1 on the number line into three large sections instead of 15 small sections.
- 6). Count the number of large sections filled in. For example, the 10 small sections filled in previously will lead up to the second large mark, filling two large sections.
- 7). Write the simplified fraction with the total number of large sections as the denominator (bottom) and the number of filled-in large sections as the numerator (top). In the example, 10/15 is simplified to 2/3.
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