Solve Fraction Division: Converting 8÷16 to Simplified Form

Q: How do I know which number goes on top and which goes on bottom?

Remember the order: dividend ÷ divisor becomes $ \frac{\text{dividend}}{\text{divisor}} $. So 8÷16 becomes $ \frac{8}{16} $, not the other way around!

Q: What does it mean to simplify a fraction?

Simplifying means reducing the fraction to its lowest terms by dividing both numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD). For $ \frac{8}{16} $, the GCD is 8.

Q: Can I check my answer without a calculator?

Yes! Since $ \frac{1}{2} $ means 1÷2, you know this equals 0.5. You can also think: half of 16 is 8, so 8÷16 should equal $ \frac{1}{2} $.

Fraction Division with Simplification

What fraction results from dividing 8 by 16?

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:03 First, let's find the fraction.

00:06 Write the division problem as a fraction, like this.

00:17 Now, we'll reduce the fraction. Remember, divide both the top, and the bottom by the same number.

00:30 Great job! And that's the solution to the question.

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

What fraction results from dividing 8 by 16?

Step-by-step solution

Write the exercise:

$8:16$

Now write it in the form of a simple fraction, remembering that the numerator is above and the denominator is below:

$\frac{8}{16}$

Divide the numerator and denominator by the number that divides both of them, in this case the number is 8:

$\frac{8:8}{16:8}=\frac{1}{2}$

Final Answer

$\frac{1}{2}$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Division Rule: Write division as a fraction with dividend over divisor
Technique: Find GCD of 8 and 16, which is 8, then divide both
Check: Verify $\frac{1}{2}$ equals 0.5, and 8÷16 = 0.5 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Writing the fraction backwards as 16/8
Don't put the divisor (16) on top and dividend (8) on bottom = $\frac{16}{8} = 2$ ! This gives the reciprocal of the correct answer. Always remember: dividend goes on top, divisor goes on bottom when converting division to fractions.

Practice Quiz

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Choose the answer that describes in words the fraction shaded in pink:

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

How do I know which number goes on top and which goes on bottom?

Remember the order: dividend ÷ divisor becomes $\frac{\text{dividend}}{\text{divisor}}$ . So 8÷16 becomes $\frac{8}{16}$ , not the other way around!

What does it mean to simplify a fraction?

Simplifying means reducing the fraction to its lowest terms by dividing both numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD). For $\frac{8}{16}$ , the GCD is 8.

How do I find the greatest common divisor?

List the factors of both numbers and find the largest one they share. For 8: {1, 2, 4, 8} and for 16: {1, 2, 4, 8, 16}. The largest common factor is 8.

Can I check my answer without a calculator?

Yes! Since $\frac{1}{2}$ means 1÷2, you know this equals 0.5. You can also think: half of 16 is 8, so 8÷16 should equal $\frac{1}{2}$ .

What if the numbers don't divide evenly?

That's okay! You can still simplify by finding any common factors. Even if you can't reduce to whole numbers, always simplify as much as possible to get the fraction in lowest terms.

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