Unit 7: Numeracy skills
Fractions
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.

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.