Question

How do you simplify$\dfrac{8}{{32}}$?

Answer 1

Hint: For solving the question, we should first write down the factors for both numerator and denominator, now divide both numerator and denominator with the greatest common factor then we will get the required answer.

Complete step-by-step solution:
A fraction is not a whole number but a number in between the whole numbers. It is a part of a whole. Also, a fraction has two parts – a numerator and a denominator.
When the numerator and the denominator can no longer be reduced to any smaller number separately, we get the fraction in its simplest form.
Finding the simplest form of a fraction means reducing the top and bottom of the fraction to the smallest whole number possible. The simplest form is the smallest possible equivalent fraction of the number.
Simplifying fractions is to find the greatest common factor of the numerator and the denominator. Here are the steps to follow:
Write down the factors for the numerator and the denominator.
Determine the largest factor that is common between the two
Divide the numerator and denominator by the greatest common factor.
Write down the reduced fraction.
Given fractions is$\dfrac{8}{{32}}$,
First write down the factors for both numerator and denominator:
$ \Rightarrow 8 = 1,2,4,8$, and
$ \Rightarrow 32 = 1,2,4,8,16,32$
$ \Rightarrow \dfrac{8}{{32}} = \dfrac{8}{8 \times 4}$,
Cancelling the common term from both numerator and denominator.
$ \Rightarrow \dfrac{8}{{32}} = \dfrac{1}{4}$,

The required simplified form for the fraction$\dfrac{8}{{32}}$is$\dfrac{1}{4}$.

Note: To simplify a fraction we divide both the numerator and denominator by the same number. A common factor is a number that divides both the numerator and denominator without leaving any remainders. We divide the fractions till we get 1 as the common factor for both the numerator and denominator.