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How to Divide Both a Numerator & Denominator by GCF

In the world of fractions, you often run into the term "greatest common factor." This is the largest value that will fit evenly into both the numerator and the denominator of a fraction. When you simplify or "reduce" a fraction, you must divide the numerator and denominator by the greatest common factor. This is a simple process that you would need to use in a middle school, high school or college math course.

Instructions

    • 1

      Write down a fraction. For example, you might use 50/60.

    • 2

      Look for the largest factor that can be divided evenly into both the numerator and the denominator. The factors of 50 are 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 and 50. For 60, the factors are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30 and 60. In this example, 10 is the largest number that is a factor of both 50 and 60.

    • 3

      Divide the numerator and denominator by the greatest common factor. So 10 divides into the numerator, 50, five times, and into the denominator, 60, six times. In this case, you would get the simplified fraction 5/6.

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