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Year 6

Explain how to write a fraction in its simplest form

I can explain how to write a fraction in its simplest form

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New
New
Year 6

Explain how to write a fraction in its simplest form

I can explain how to write a fraction in its simplest form

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A fraction in its simplest form is equivalent to the original fraction.
  2. Equivalent fractions have the same value.
  3. To simplify fractions you divide the numerator and denominator by a common factor.

Common misconception

Pupils think that converting a fraction to its simplest form is the same as making the fraction smaller or making the numerator have a value of one.

Ensure pupils realise that the numerator and denominator are both scaled to find a different representation of the same sized fraction. Provide examples of fractions where the simplest form does not have a numerator of one.

Keywords

  • Equivalent - If two numbers or expressions have the same value, they are said to be equivalent.

  • Common factor - When we compare lists of factors of two or more numbers, any factors that are the same are common factors.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Tick the numbers in the equation that are factors: 4 × 3 = 12
Correct answer: 4
Correct answer: 3
12
Q2.
Match the words with their meanings.
Correct Answer:Numerator ,Number on the top of a fraction.

Number on the top of a fraction.

Correct Answer:Denominator ,Number on the bottom of a fraction.

Number on the bottom of a fraction.

Correct Answer:Vinculum , Fraction bar or line.

Fraction bar or line.

Q3.
If two or more numbers share the same factor, the factor is known as a factor.
Correct Answer: common
Q4.
Tick the common factors of 12 and 24
Correct answer: 1
Correct answer: 2
Correct answer: 3
Correct answer: 4
5
Q5.
Write one common factor of 8 and 24
Correct Answer: 8, 4, 2, 1
Q6.
Tick the common multiples of 3 and 4
8
9
Correct answer: 12
16
Correct answer: 24

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Write down a common factor of 6 and 18
Correct Answer: 6, 3, 2, 1
Q2.
Tick the highest common factor of 6 and 24
2
3
Correct answer: 6
24
Q3.
To find the simplest form of a fraction, we:
divide the numerator and denominator by a common factor.
Correct answer: divide the numerator and denominator by the highest common factor.
make the numerator 1
make the fraction as small as we can.
Q4.
Tick the fraction that is the simplest form of $${6} \over {12}$$
$${1} \over {12}$$
$${3} \over {4}$$
$${2} \over {6}$$
Correct answer: $${1} \over {2}$$
Q5.
Tick the fraction that is the simplest form of $${9} \over {12}$$
$${1} \over {12}$$
Correct answer: $${3} \over {4}$$
$${3} \over {12}$$
$${1} \over {3}$$
Q6.
To find the simplest form of $${7} \over {21}$$, you could divide the numerator and denominator by:
3
Correct answer: 7
3 and then by 4
2 and then by 5