Reduce the Fraction 12/15 to Its Simplest Form: Step-by-Step Solution

Fraction Simplification with Common Factor Method

Reduce the given fraction into its simplest form:

1215= \frac{12}{15}=

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Reduce the fraction as much as possible
00:03 Divide by the greatest common factor
00:07 Make sure to divide both numerator and denominator
00:10 Calculate the quotients
00:14 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Reduce the given fraction into its simplest form:

1215= \frac{12}{15}=

2

Step-by-step solution

We need to identify the highest common factor (HCF): The largest number that both the numerator and the denominator can be divided by.

In this case, the number is 3, therefore:

12:315:3=43 \frac{12:3}{15:3}=\frac{4}{3}

3

Final Answer

45 \frac{4}{5}

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Rule: Find the highest common factor (HCF) of numerator and denominator
  • Technique: Divide both 12 and 15 by their HCF of 3
  • Check: Verify 45 \frac{4}{5} cannot be simplified further ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Dividing by different numbers for numerator and denominator
    Don't divide 12 by 4 and 15 by 3 = unequal fractions like 35 \frac{3}{5} ! This changes the fraction's value completely. Always divide both numerator and denominator by the same common factor.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Without calculating, determine whether the quotient in the division exercise is less than 1 or not:

\( 5:6= \)

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

How do I find the highest common factor (HCF)?

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List the factors of both numbers: 12 has factors 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12 and 15 has factors 1, 3, 5, 15. The largest number that appears in both lists is your HCF - in this case, 3!

What if I can't see the HCF right away?

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Start with small common factors like 2 or 3. You can simplify step by step! For example, if you divided by 3 first, you could check if the result can be simplified further.

How do I know when a fraction is fully simplified?

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A fraction is in simplest form when the numerator and denominator have no common factors except 1. Check: 4 and 5 only share the factor 1, so 45 \frac{4}{5} is fully simplified!

What if I get the wrong HCF?

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No problem! If you use a smaller common factor first, you can always continue simplifying. For instance, dividing by 1 won't change anything, and dividing by 2 would only work if both numbers are even.

Why is the answer 4/5 and not 4/3?

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The original explanation has an error! When we divide 1215 \frac{12}{15} by 3, we get 12÷315÷3=45 \frac{12÷3}{15÷3} = \frac{4}{5} , not 43 \frac{4}{3} . Always divide both the numerator and denominator by the same number.

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