Question

How do you write `27/36` in simplest form?

Answer 1

`27/36 =3/4`

Explanation:

One way is to find the highest number which divides into both of them.

We should recognise that 27 and 36 are multiples of 9.
Therefore they can both be divided by 9.

The value of a fraction does not change if you multiply or divide the numerator and the denominator by the same number.

`(27÷9)/(36 ÷9) = 3/4`

It is also possible to write the numerator and denominator as the product of the prime factors.

Any number divided by itself is equal to one, so we can also simplify by cancelling the same factors.

`27/36 = (3xx3xx3)/(2xx2xx3xx3) = (3xxcancel3xxcancel3)/(2xx2xxcancel3xxcancel3) = 3/4`