Simplify 18/36 to a Fraction with Denominator 4

Q: What if the target denominator doesn't work?

The target denominator must be a factor of the simplified form's denominator. If $ \frac{18}{36} $ simplifies to $ \frac{1}{2} $, you can only get denominators that divide into 2.

Q: Why is the factor 9 and not something else?

The factor is what you divide both parts by. Since $ 18 ÷ 9 = 2 $ and $ 36 ÷ 9 = 4 $, the factor is 9.

Q: How can I check if my simplified fraction is correct?

Convert both fractions to decimals: $ \frac{18}{36} = 0.5 $ and $ \frac{2}{4} = 0.5 $. If they're equal, you're right!

Q: What's the difference between simplifying and converting to a target denominator?

Simplifying means reducing to lowest terms. Converting to a target denominator means finding an equivalent fraction with a specific denominator, which may not be fully simplified.

Fraction Simplification with Target Denominators

Simplify the fraction below to the denominator 4 and specify the simplification factor:

$\frac{18}{36}$

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:00 Reduce the fraction to denominator - 4

00:03 Divide the fraction by the appropriate factor

00:07 Make sure to divide both numerator and denominator

00:10 Calculate the quotients

00:13 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

Simplify the fraction below to the denominator 4 and specify the simplification factor:

$\frac{18}{36}$

Step-by-step solution

Let's look at the denominator of the fraction. We'll try to find a number that, when divided by 36, gives us a result of 4:

$\frac{18:9}{36:9}=\frac{2}{4}$

Final Answer

$\frac{2}{4}$ , factor of 9

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Find common factor between original and target denominators
Technique: Divide both parts by same number: 18÷9=2, 36÷9=4
Check: Verify equivalence: $\frac{18}{36} = \frac{2}{4} = 0.5$ ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Dividing numerator and denominator by different factors
Don't divide 18 by one number and 36 by a different number = wrong fraction! This breaks the equivalence and gives an incorrect result. Always divide both numerator and denominator by the same 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 right simplification factor?

Look at what you need to divide the original denominator by to get your target. Here: $36 ÷ ? = 4$ , so ? = 9. That's your factor!

What if the target denominator doesn't work?

The target denominator must be a factor of the simplified form's denominator. If $\frac{18}{36}$ simplifies to $\frac{1}{2}$ , you can only get denominators that divide into 2.

Why is the factor 9 and not something else?

The factor is what you divide both parts by. Since $18 ÷ 9 = 2$ and $36 ÷ 9 = 4$ , the factor is 9.

How can I check if my simplified fraction is correct?

Convert both fractions to decimals: $\frac{18}{36} = 0.5$ and $\frac{2}{4} = 0.5$ . If they're equal, you're right!

What's the difference between simplifying and converting to a target denominator?

Simplifying means reducing to lowest terms. Converting to a target denominator means finding an equivalent fraction with a specific denominator, which may not be fully simplified.

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