12/50 simplified

Guri Bee

less than a minute read

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22-10-2024

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Simplifying Fractions: 12/50 Made Easy

Fractions can seem intimidating, but simplifying them is a breeze once you understand the process. Let's take the fraction 12/50 as an example. Here's how to break it down:

What is simplifying fractions?

Simplifying a fraction means finding an equivalent fraction with the smallest possible numerator and denominator. This makes it easier to understand and compare fractions.

Step 1: Find the Greatest Common Factor (GCD)

The GCD is the largest number that divides evenly into both the numerator (12) and the denominator (50). In this case, the GCD is 2.

Step 2: Divide both numerator and denominator by the GCD

Divide 12 by 2, which equals 6.
Divide 50 by 2, which equals 25.

Step 3: Express the simplified fraction

The simplified form of 12/50 is 6/25.

Why does this work?

Simplifying fractions is based on the fundamental principle of equivalent fractions. Dividing both the numerator and denominator by the same number doesn't change the value of the fraction, it just expresses it in a different form.

Here's a real-world example:

Imagine you have a pizza cut into 50 slices. You eat 12 slices. You have eaten 12/50 of the pizza. This can be simplified to 6/25, which means you ate 6 slices out of every 25 slices.

Let's explore other ways to simplify fractions:

• Using prime factorization: Break down the numerator and denominator into their prime factors. Then cancel out any common factors.
• Using a calculator: Many calculators have a fraction simplification function.

Remember: Simplifying fractions is a valuable skill for math, science, and everyday life. By understanding the concept of equivalent fractions and the process of finding the GCD, you can easily simplify any fraction.

Note: The information and examples used in this article are inspired by the discussions on GitHub. However, the content has been adapted and expanded to provide a more comprehensive and engaging explanation.