1. © 2007 M. Tallman

2. Which would you prefer… …or 100 pennies? …carrying around a 1 dollar bill… Even though they are both equal, a dollar bill is more “simple” because it is 1 piece (compared to 100).

3. 2 1 4 2 6 3 8 4 10 5 === = These fractions are equal. However, one is “more simple”. Which one do you think is in simplest form? ½ is in simplest form, since it has fewer pieces.

4. © 2007 M. Tallman 3 1 6 2 9 3 12 4 15 5 3 1 6 1 6 1 12 1 1 1 1 15 1 1 1 1 1 9 1 9 1 9 1 Which fraction is in simplest form? is in simplest form, since it has fewer pieces. 3 1

5. © 2007 M. Tallman 4 1 8 2 12 3 = = 4 1 1 1 1 8 1 8 1 Which one do you think is in simplest form? ¼ is in simplest form, since it has fewer pieces.

6. © 2007 M. Tallman 3 2 6 4 9 6 12 8 Which one do you think is in simplest form? is in simplest form, since it has fewer pieces. 3 2

7. © 2007 M. Tallman 5 3 10 6 15 9 Which fraction is in simplest form? is in simplest form, since it has fewer pieces. 5 3 5 1 5 1 5 1 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 15 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

8. © 2007 M. Tallman Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator. Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF. 4 1 4 1 1 = 4 2 2 2 2 ÷ GCF: 2 When the numerator and the denominator are the same, the fraction equals 1 whole. Dividing any number by one does not change the value. Example: 9 ÷ 1 = 9 = 2 1

9. © 2007 M. Tallman Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator. Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF. 1 = 12 6 6 6 2 ÷ GCF: 6 = 2 1 12 1 1 1 1 1 1

10. © 2007 M. Tallman Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator. Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF. 2 = 10 4 2 2 5 ÷ GCF: 2 10 1 1 1 1 5 1 5 1

11. © 2007 M. Tallman Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator. Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF. 3 = 8 6 2 2 4 ÷ GCF: 2 = 8 1 8 1 8 1 8 1 8 1 8 1 4 1 4 1 4 1

12. © 2007 M. Tallman Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator. Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF. 3 = 15 9 3 3 5 ÷ GCF: 3 15 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 1 5 1 5 1

13. © 2007 M. Tallman 28 Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator. Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF. Use the GCF to simplify the fraction. 2 7 4 4 8 ÷ = GCF: 4

14. © 2007 M. Tallman 21 Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator. Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF. Use the GCF to simplify the fraction. 1 3 7 7 7 ÷ = GCF: 7

15. © 2007 M. Tallman 8 Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator. Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF. Use the GCF to simplify the fraction. 3 4 2 2 6 ÷ = GCF: 2

16. © 2007 M. Tallman 35 Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator. Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF. Use the GCF to simplify the fraction. 2 7 5 5 10 ÷ = GCF: 5

17. © 2007 M. Tallman 30 Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator. Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF. Use the GCF to simplify the fraction. 3 5 6 6 18 ÷ = GCF: 6

18. © 2007 M. Tallman 18 Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator. Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF. Use the GCF to simplify the fraction. 5 6 3 3 15 ÷ = GCF: 3

19. © 2007 M. Tallman 16 Step 1: Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator. Step 2: Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCF. Use the GCF to simplify the fraction. 1 4 4 4 4 ÷ = GCF: 4