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Unit 7: Numeracy skills

Fractionscartoon number two

Cancelling down

When we use a fraction, we usually give it in its simplest form. To do this we look at the top (the numerator) and the bottom (denominator) and see if there is a number by which both can be divided an exact number of times. So:

2 = 1 x 2 = 1 since the "twos" cancel out
-   ------   -
8   4 x 2   4

6 = 3 x 2 = 3
-   ------   -
8   4 x 2   4

15 = 3 x 5 = 3
---   ------   -
35   7 x 5   7

16 = 8 x 2 = 2   16 = 4 x 4 = 4 = 2 x 2 = 2
---   ------   - OR ---   ---------   -   --------   -
24   8 x 3   3   24   6 x 4   6   3 x 2   3

Use as many steps as you need to reach the answer.

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SMILE - Numeracy skills by Tom Frank, Eric Williams and Clare Wright, University of Birmingham Careers Centre adapted by Marion Kelt Glasgow Caledonian University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.