Equivalent fractions are a handy way for being able to work with unlike fractions. Because there are thousands and thousands of equivalent fractions that represent the same amount, we need a way of recognising which fractions represent the same amount. Simplifying fractions is the way to do this. This chapter shows how to simplify fractions.
Note: The little squares shown on most of the pages each show different ways of cutting the square into two halves. This is what equivalent fractions are all about: many ways of representing the same quantity. We might choose one square that does not contain so many twists and turns to be the simplest representation of halves. In a sense, that is what simplifying fractions aims to do.
This website presents extracts of each chapter in the related book called Fractions For Parents. The chapters are listed on the side of this page.
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