Video (3 min.) - http://screencast.com/t/pKKpOf1kx

 

Reducing or simplifying fractions is about changing your final answer after adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing fractions.  Reducing changes a fraction to a simplified form by dividing both the top and bottom by a common factor.

For example 2/4 reduces to 1/2.  Another example is 3/9 reduces to 1/3.

 

Practice

Interactive Online Practice- http://www.321know.com/fra66hx2.htm#section2

Worksheet- http://www.math-drills.com/fractions/fractions_lowest_terms_easy_001.pdf

Need more practice?  http://www.math-drills.com/fractions.shtml  Scroll down to reducing for 8 more practice worksheets.

 

Please note:  Reducing will be extremely difficult if you do not have your multiplication facts down pat.  You might do well to work on those for awhile first.

Here are some suggestions for that:

1) Buy some index cards and make flashcards with the problem (ex.  7 x8 ) on one side and the answer ( 56 ) on the other side, then work with them.

2) Try this free computer video game- http://www.bigbrainz.com/index.php?PARTNER=brettstaylor 

3) Try my multiplication facts drill at http://www.geocities.com/multiplicationfacts