How do you write the answer #3/16 times 4/9# in simplest form?

2 Answers
Oct 30, 2016

#1/12#

Explanation:

#3/16*4/9#
#=cancel(3)/(cancel(16)color(red)(4))*cancel(4)/(cancel(9)color(red)(3))#
#=1/12#

Oct 30, 2016

#1/12#

Explanation:

When multiplying 2 or more fractions together we can #color(blue)"cancel"# any common factors on the numerators with values on the denominators, dividing each by the common factor.

#rArr(3÷3)/(16÷4)xx(4÷4)/(9÷3)=1/4xx1/3=1/12#

This is usually done by 'scoring out' the value to be cancelled.

#rArrcancelcolor(red)(3)^1/cancelcolor(blue)(16)^4xxcancelcolor(blue)(4)^1/cancelcolor(red)(9)^3=(1xx1)/(4xx3)=1/12larr" in simplest form"#

A fraction is in #color(blue)"simplest form"# when the numerator/denominator have only 1 as a common factor.