Question

How can you use division to simplify a fraction?

Answer 1

You divide the numerator and denominator by a number

Explanation:

So you're trying to simplify a fraction

if that fraction is `10/20`

find a whole number that can divide into the numerator and denominator.

if that whole number was 5, then we calculate `10/5=2` and `20/5=4`

now the fraction is simplified to `2/4`, but we can still simplify it.

now that whole number we're using to divide is 2, calculate `2/2=1` and `4/2=2`

`10/20` in its simplest form is `1/2`

When we add both of those whole numbers `5+2` we get `7`

if you tried evaluating `10/7` and `20/7` you wouldn't get a whole number for an answer, but 7 only fits into 10 once, and fits into 20 twice. so the simplest form of `10/20` must be `1/2`.