How do you simplify ratios?
1 Answer
Method 1: Divide both sides by each common factor you find in turn.
Method 2: Find the greatest common factor of the two numbers and divide both sides by it.
Explanation:
Example problem: Simplify
Method 1
In this method, we will divide both sides of the ratio by each factor we find in turn.
Given
#35:28#
Trying each prime number in turn, the next number which both sides are divisible by is
#5:4#
Method 2
In this method we find the greatest common factor first, then divide both sides by it.
To find the GCF proceed as follows:
Divide the larger number by the smaller to give a quotient and remainder.
If the remainder is zero then the smaller number is the GCF.
Otherwise repeat with the smaller number and the remainder.
So in our example:
#70/56 = 1# with remainder#14#
#56/14 = 4# with remainder#0#
So the GCF is
Divide both sides of our original ratio by
#5:4#