Can 5/8 be simplified?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking if the fraction 5/8 can be simplified further. To clarify, simplifying a fraction means reducing it to its simplest form, where the numerator and denominator have no common factors other than 1.
Answer
The fraction $\frac{5}{8}$ cannot be simplified.
Answer for screen readers
The fraction $\frac{5}{8}$ cannot be simplified.
Steps to Solve
- Identify the numerator and denominator
The fraction is $\frac{5}{8}$, where 5 is the numerator and 8 is the denominator.
- Find the greatest common divisor (GCD)
Next, we need to check for any common factors between 5 and 8. The factors of 5 are 1 and 5, while the factors of 8 are 1, 2, 4, and 8. The only common factor is 1.
- Determine if the fraction can be simplified
Since the GCD of 5 and 8 is 1, this means that there are no common factors to divide the numerator and denominator by. Therefore, the fraction cannot be simplified further.
The fraction $\frac{5}{8}$ cannot be simplified.
More Information
The fraction $\frac{5}{8}$ is already in its simplest form. It represents a part of a whole: if you divide something into 8 equal parts, 5 parts would represent $\frac{5}{8}$ of the whole.
Tips
- Assuming a fraction can always be simplified without checking for common factors. It is essential to check the GCD before attempting simplification.
