--- title: "Simplifying Fractions" description: "Use common factors to simplify fractions to their simplest form; use common multiples to express fractions with a common denominator" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/simplifying-fractions-mt_b7T-CjOYUR source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/simplifying-fractions-mt_b7T-CjOYUR.md retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Simplifying Fractions Use common factors to simplify fractions to their simplest form; use common multiples to express fractions with a common denominator Subject: Mathematics · Area: Fractions · Ages 10 to 11 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/simplifying-fractions-mt_b7T-CjOYUR ## Ready when they can - Simplify 18/24 to 3/4 by identifying the HCF of 18 and 24 - Express 2/3 and 5/8 with a common denominator of 24 - Explain why dividing numerator and denominator by a common factor produces an equivalent fraction ## Lesson: Simplifying Fractions A fraction can look different but still stand for the same amount. Simplifying a fraction means writing it with the smallest possible numbers, without changing what it means. You do this by dividing the numerator and denominator by their highest common factor, or HCF. *(drawing: 18/24 and 3/4 shade the same amount. 3/4 just uses smaller numbers.)* **Example.** To simplify 18/24, find the HCF of 18 and 24. It is 6. Divide both numbers by 6: 18 divided by 6 is 3, and 24 divided by 6 is 4. So 18/24 simplifies to 3/4. Sometimes you need two fractions to share the same denominator instead, so you can compare or add them. Find a common multiple of both denominators. For 2/3 and 5/8, a common denominator is 24, because 24 is a multiple of both 3 and 8. **Tip.** To simplify fast, look for the biggest number that divides evenly into both the top and bottom. To find a common denominator, multiplying the two denominators together always works, even when it is not the smallest option. **Recap.** Divide by the HCF to simplify a fraction, and use a common multiple of the denominators to give two fractions a matching bottom number. ## Practice 18 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Equivalent fractions (age 9+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/equivalent-fractions-age-9-mt_ebPelt-qAl) - [Factors, multiples, and primes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/factors-multiples-and-primes-mt_FHIAv6dfhU) - [Fraction notation](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/fraction-notation-mt_vKcxX6iNOA) ## Opens up - [Adding fractions (unlike denominators)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/adding-fractions-unlike-denominators-mt_14T5yPXUq_) - [Multiplying fractions (age 10+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/multiplying-fractions-age-10-mt_AabJisinfi) - [Unequal sharing and grouping](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/unequal-sharing-and-grouping-mt_FnUJMXPUZX) - [Comparing fractions (age 10+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/comparing-fractions-age-10-mt_PL9VkDwXfh) - [One Quantity as a Fraction](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/one-quantity-as-a-fraction-mt_xAf2bu9wYK)