One amount, many names
Fold a paper strip in half. Shade one side with a pencil. Fold the strip again. Now it has 4 parts. The shading has not moved.
Loading lab…
The rule
Cut every part in half. The shading stays where it is. So 1/2 and 2/4 are two names for one amount.
Multiply the top and the bottom by the same number. The amount does not change.
| Start | ×2 | ×4 |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 2/4 | 4/8 |
Two names for one amount are equivalent fractions. Divide top and bottom by the same number above 1. Repeat until no number above 1 works. The result is the simplest form. 4/8 becomes 1/2.
In simplest form, top and bottom share no factor except 1. A factor divides a number exactly.
Example
3/4 = ?/8. The ? is the missing top number.
The bottom is 4 × 2 = 8. So multiply the top by 2 too.
3 × 2 = 6. So 3/4 = 6/8.