Calculate 12/18 Easy

The question

Question: simplify 12/18.

Can we make it simpler?

1 Simplify

Both 12 and 18 can be divided by 6.

That makes it simpler.

So it is 2/3.

Can we make it simpler?

No number goes into both 2 and 3, except 1.

So it stays like this.

So the answer is 2/3.

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Calculate 3/4 + 1/6 Medium

The question

Question: work out 3/4 + 1/6.

1 Make the bottoms the same

The bottom numbers are 4 and 6.

They are different, so we can't add the tops yet.

We count up in 4s and in 6s.

12 is the first number in both lists.

So 12 will be the new bottom.

4 times 3 is 12.

So 3/4 gets times 3/3.

6 times 2 is 12.

So 1/6 gets times 2/2.

We multiply the top and the bottom by the same number.

3/3 is 1.

Times 1 does not change the size.

So the fraction stays the same, only the bottom changes.

Top times top.

Bottom times bottom.

3 times 3 is 9.

4 times 3 is 12.

1 times 2 is 2.

6 times 2 is 12.

Now both have 12 at the bottom.

2 Add the tops

The bottoms are the same, so the pieces are the same size.

We add the tops.

The bottom stays 12, because the size of the pieces does not change.

9 plus 2 is 11.

Can we make it simpler?

No number goes into both 11 and 12, except 1.

So it stays like this.

So the answer is 11/12.

Let's look back.

First: make the bottoms the same.

Last: add the tops.

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Calculate 2 2/3 ÷ 1 1/3 Harder

The question

Question: work out 2 and 2/3 ÷ 1 and 1/3.

1 Make one fraction

2 and 2/3 is a mixed number.

Each whole one is 3/3.

So we do 2 times 3, plus 2.

The bottom stays 3.

2 times 3 plus 2 is 8.

So it is 8/3.

1 and 1/3 is a mixed number.

Each whole one is 3/3.

So we do 1 times 3, plus 1.

The bottom stays 3.

1 times 3 plus 1 is 4.

So it is 4/3.

2 Flip and multiply

Dividing by a fraction is the same as times its flip.

Keep the first number.

Change divide to times.

Turn the second fraction upside down.

So 4/3 becomes 3/4, and divide becomes times.

3 Cancel first

Before we multiply, we make the numbers smaller.

8 on top and 4 at the bottom both divide by 4.

3 on top and 3 at the bottom both divide by 3.

A top and a bottom divided by the same number: the answer stays the same.

So we multiply smaller numbers.

2 times 1 is 2.

So the answer is 2.

Let's look back.

First: make one fraction.

Then: flip and multiply.

Last: cancel first.

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