15/42 simplified

less than a minute read 22-10-2024

Simplifying Fractions: 15/42 Made Easy

Fractions are a fundamental part of mathematics, representing parts of a whole. Simplifying fractions, or reducing them to their lowest terms, makes them easier to work with and understand. In this article, we'll explore how to simplify the fraction 15/42.

Understanding Fraction Simplification

Simplifying a fraction means finding an equivalent fraction with smaller numerator and denominator. This is achieved by dividing both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor (GCF).

Finding the GCF of 15 and 42

The GCF is the largest number that divides into both 15 and 42 without leaving a remainder. We can find the GCF using various methods, but a common one is listing out the factors:

Factors of 15: 1, 3, 5, 15
Factors of 42: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, 21, 42

The greatest common factor of 15 and 42 is 3.

Simplifying 15/42

Now that we know the GCF is 3, we can divide both the numerator (15) and the denominator (42) by 3:

15 ÷ 3 = 5
42 ÷ 3 = 14

Therefore, the simplified form of 15/42 is 5/14.

Practical Applications

Understanding how to simplify fractions is crucial in various fields:

Cooking: Recipes often call for fractions of ingredients. Simplifying fractions helps you accurately measure ingredients.
Construction: Fractions are used extensively in construction for measurements and calculations. Simplifying them ensures accurate results.
Finance: Understanding fractions is essential for budgeting, calculating interest rates, and managing personal finances.

Further Exploration

Want to learn more about simplifying fractions? Here are some resources:

Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/arithmetic/fractions/simplifying-fractions/v/simplifying-fractions-example
Math is Fun: https://www.mathsisfun.com/simplifying-fractions.html

Note: This article was created using information from various sources, including GitHub, Khan Academy, and Math is Fun.