simplify 21/42
Understand the Problem
The question is asking to simplify the fraction 21/42. To simplify a fraction, we divide both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD). In this case, the GCD of 21 and 42 is 21, so we would divide both by 21 to get the simplified fraction.
Answer
The simplified fraction is $\frac{1}{2}$.
Answer for screen readers
The simplified fraction of $\frac{21}{42}$ is $\frac{1}{2}$.
Steps to Solve
- Identify the GCD The first step is to find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of the numerator (21) and the denominator (42).
The GCD of 21 and 42 is 21.
- Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCD Next, we need to divide both the numerator and denominator by their GCD.
So, for the numerator:
$$ \frac{21}{21} = 1 $$
For the denominator:
$$ \frac{42}{21} = 2 $$
- Write the simplified fraction Now that both parts are simplified, you can write the simplified fraction as:
$$ \frac{1}{2} $$
The simplified fraction of $\frac{21}{42}$ is $\frac{1}{2}$.
More Information
Simplifying fractions helps in expressing them in their simplest form, making calculations easier. In this case, $21$ and $42$ both can be simplified by dividing by their GCD directly, leading to the simpler fraction $\frac{1}{2}$.
Tips
- Failing to find the GCD can lead to incorrect simplifications. Always ensure to identify the greatest common divisor first.
- Dividing only one part of the fraction without dividing both parts can also result in an incorrect answer.
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