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

Oct 30, 2016

$\frac{1}{12}$

#### Explanation:

$\frac{3}{16} \cdot \frac{4}{9}$
$= \frac{\cancel{3}}{\cancel{16} \textcolor{red}{4}} \cdot \frac{\cancel{4}}{\cancel{9} \textcolor{red}{3}}$
$= \frac{1}{12}$

Oct 30, 2016

$\frac{1}{12}$

#### Explanation:

When multiplying 2 or more fractions together we can $\textcolor{b l u e}{\text{cancel}}$ 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.

$\Rightarrow {\cancel{\textcolor{red}{3}}}^{1} / {\cancel{\textcolor{b l u e}{16}}}^{4} \times {\cancel{\textcolor{b l u e}{4}}}^{1} / {\cancel{\textcolor{red}{9}}}^{3} = \frac{1 \times 1}{4 \times 3} = \frac{1}{12} \leftarrow \text{ in simplest form}$

A fraction is in $\textcolor{b l u e}{\text{simplest form}}$ when the numerator/denominator have only 1 as a common factor.