Question

How do you reduce `40/36`?

Answer 1

See the entire solution process below:

Explanation:

First, we need to factor the numerator and the denominator:

`40` factored is `2 xx 2 xx 2 xx 5`

`36` factored is `2 xx 2 xx 3 xx 3`

Therefore:

`40/36 = (2 xx 2 xx 2 xx 5)/(2 xx 2 xx 3 xx 3)`

We can now cancel the common terms:

`(2 xx 2 xx 2 xx 5)/(2 xx 2 xx 3 xx 3) = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2))) xx color(blue)(cancel(color(black)(2))) xx 2 xx 5)/(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2))) xx color(blue)(cancel(color(black)(2))) xx 3 xx 3) =`

`10/9`