Tool to reduce fractions in lowest terms. A Fraction in Lowest Terms (Irreducible Fraction) is a reduced fraction in which the numerator and the denominator are coprime (they do not share common factors)
Irreducible Fractions - dCode
Tag(s) : Arithmetics, Symbolic Computation
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Irreducible Fractions
Simplify Fractions in Lowest Terms
Decimal to Fraction in Lowest Terms Converter
Answers to Questions (FAQ)
What is a fraction in lowest terms? (Definition)
Any fraction can be written in different ways while keeping its value.
Example: $ \frac{50}{100} = \frac{5}{10} = \frac{2}{4} = \frac{1}{2} = 0.5 $
A fraction in lowest form (irreducible fraction) is a fraction whose denominateur (the divisor, the number under the fraction bar) is the smallest possible integer. NB: the numerator (the dividend number above the fraction bar) must also be an integer.
Giving the result as an irreducible fraction is usually the preferred format for writing a fraction, as it is its simplest form.
Example: $ \frac{1}{2} $ is fraction in lowest form while $ \frac{2}{4} $ is not a fraction in lowest form.
How to make a fraction in lowest terms?
To simplify a fraction $ a / b $ or $ \frac{a}{b} $ composed of a numerator $ a $ and a denominator $ b $, find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of the numbers $ a $ and $ b $. The irreducible fraction is obtained by dividing the numerator and the denominator by the calculated GCD.
Example: The fraction $ 12/10 $ has $ 12 $ for numerator and $ 10 $ for denominator. Calculate that $ GCD(12,10) = 2 $ and divide both the numerator $ 12/2 = 6 $ and the denominator $ 10/2 = 5 $, so the corresponding irreducible fraction is $ 6/5 $
dCode offers tools to calculate the GCD via, for example, Euclid's algorithm.
How to calculate and give the result under the lowest terms form?
Use the above calculator form: enter the expressions/fractions and the simplifier will use formal calculations in order to keep variables and find the irreducible form of the division (simplification of the fraction in lowest terms).
How to make a fraction from a decimal number?
If the number has a limited decimal development then it only needs to be multiplied by the right power of 10, then simplify the fraction and solve the equation.
Example: The number $ 0.14 $ is equivalent to $ 0.14/1 $, multiply by $ 10/10 (=1) $ until having no comma: $ 0.14/1 = 1.4/10 = 14/100 $ then simplify $ 14/100 = 7/50 $
If the number has a non finite decimal expansion then it is necessary to locate the repeating portion of the number after the repeating decimal point.
Example: The number $ 0.166666666\dots $ where the $ 6 $ is repeated
If $ x $ is the decimal number, and $ n $ the size (number of digits) of the smallest repeated portion. To obtain a fraction, multiply $ x $ by $ 10^n $ and then subtract $ x $.
Example: $ x = 0.1666666\dots $, the smallest repeated portion is $ 6 $, which has a single digit so that $ n = 1 $. Then compute $ 10^1 \times x = 1.6666666\dots $ and $ 10x-x $. $$ 10x-x = 9x = 1.666666\dots - 0.1666666\dots = 1.5 \\ \iff 9x = 1.5 \\ \Rightarrow x = 1.5/9 = 15/90 = 1/6 $$ so $ 1/6 = 0.1666666\dots $
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Irreducible Fractions on dCode.fr [online website], retrieved on 2024-12-21,
