Question

How do I simplify the fraction \[\dfrac{5}{10}\]?

Answer 1

Hint: In the given question, we are given a fraction and we are asked to simplify the given fraction, that means, we have to reduce the fraction further, if possible. Firstly, we will factor the numbers we have in the numerator and the denominator. We will then cancel out the common terms present in the numerator and the numerator and then we will have the fraction reduced. Hence, we will have the simplified form of the given fraction.

Complete step by step answer:
According to the given question, we are given a fraction which we will have to simplify further. In other words, we have to reduce the given fraction in the simplest form.
The fraction we have is,
\[\dfrac{5}{10}\]-----(1)
We will first factor the numbers in the numerator and the denominator. Then, we will cancel out the terms which are common in both the numerator as well as in the denominator in the equation (1). So, we have,
\[= \dfrac{5}{5\times 2}\]-----(2)
Since, we know that 10 can be written as a product of 5 and 2. We have the equation (2).
We can see in equation (2) that the numerator and the denominator have 5 as common. So, next we will cancel out this common term and then we will obtain the reduced form of the fraction.
We have,
\[= \dfrac{1}{2}\]

Therefore, the simplest form of the given fraction \[\dfrac{5}{10}\] is \[\dfrac{1}{2}\]

Note: The above question asked only to express the given fraction in the simplest form. Simplest form here also means to keep the new form of the given fraction as a fraction only and should not be reduced to a decimal form as then the answer is not the required one.