What is the simplest form of 16/20?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the simplest form of the fraction 16/20, which means we need to reduce the fraction to its lowest terms by dividing both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD).
Answer
The simplest form of the fraction $\frac{16}{20}$ is $\frac{4}{5}$.
Answer for screen readers
The simplest form of the fraction $\frac{16}{20}$ is $\frac{4}{5}$.
Steps to Solve
- Identify the numerator and denominator
The numerator (top number) is 16 and the denominator (bottom number) is 20.
- Find the greatest common divisor (GCD)
To reduce the fraction, we need to find the GCD of 16 and 20. The factors of 16 are 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and the factors of 20 are 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20. The largest common factor is 4.
- Divide the numerator and denominator by the GCD
Now that we have the GCD, we divide both the numerator and denominator by 4:
$$ \frac{16 \div 4}{20 \div 4} = \frac{4}{5} $$
- Write the simplified fraction
After dividing, the simplified fraction is $\frac{4}{5}$.
The simplest form of the fraction $\frac{16}{20}$ is $\frac{4}{5}$.
More Information
Reducing fractions is a useful skill in mathematics as it allows for easier calculations and comparisons. The concept of GCD applies in many areas, including simplifying ratios and solving problems in number theory.
Tips
- Confusing the order of the numbers when finding the GCD. Always verify that the GCD is the largest common factor.
- Forgetting to divide both the numerator and denominator by the GCD, which can result in an incorrect simplification.
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