12/16 simplified
Understand the Problem
The question is asking to simplify the fraction 12/16 to its lowest terms. This involves finding the greatest common divisor (GCD) of the numerator and denominator and dividing both by that number.
Answer
3/4
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is 3/4
Steps to Solve
- Find the GCD (Greatest Common Divisor) of 12 and 16
To simplify the fraction, we first need to find the largest number that divides both 12 and 16 without leaving a remainder. The factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12. The factors of 16 are 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16. The common factors are 1, 2, and 4. The greatest common divisor is 4.
- Divide the numerator and the denominator by the GCD
Now, we divide both the numerator and the denominator by their GCD, which is 4.
$$ \frac{12 \div 4}{16 \div 4} $$
This simplifies to:
$$ \frac{3}{4} $$
- Write the simplified fraction
After dividing the numerator and the denominator by the GCD, the simplified fraction is obtained.
The final answer is 3/4
More Information
Simplifying fractions by using the GCD is a fundamental skill in arithmetic. By ensuring that both the numerator and denominator are divided by their greatest common divisor, the fraction is reduced to its simplest form.
Tips
A common mistake when simplifying fractions is to not use the greatest common divisor, but rather any common divisor. This does not reduce the fraction to its simplest form. Always ensure you find the GCD to fully simplify the fraction.
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