Reducing Fractions Worksheet

Students find the greatest common factor, reduce 16 fractions to simplest form and spot fractions already in simplest form.

Format

Only the colour PDF is ready for this resource so far. The other formats are on the way.

At a glance
Years
5–6
Pages
2
A4
Type
Worksheet
Includes
Answer key
Answer key included

Last updated

Reducing fractions with the greatest common factor

Students reduce fractions by finding the greatest common factor first. A worked example shows the method, and a factor box beside it gives room to list the factors of any fraction in the main set and circle the greatest shared one. Of the 16 fractions in Part C, several, like 72/96, have a large common factor that takes more than one step if students divide by smaller numbers. The key shows the greatest common factor and both divisions for every fraction.

Bring it into your classroom.

Students will

Learning objectives

  • Find the greatest common factor of two numbers by listing their factors.
  • Reduce a fraction to simplest form by dividing the top and bottom by the same number.
  • Recognise a fraction that is already in simplest form.
  • Reduce improper fractions such as 45/20.
From the creator

Teaching tips

1

Watch 22/34 and 38/16, where the only shared factor is 2. Students expecting a bigger factor often call them already simplest; ask whether both numbers are even.

2

Students who divide 24/40 by 2 often stop at 12/20. Have them check the new top and bottom for a shared factor before moving on, as the key's teacher tip shows.

3

In Part D, students who test only small factors miss that 13 divides 39. Ask them to try the top number itself as a factor of the bottom.

Differentiation

Meet every learner.

Ways to adjust the 20 fractions for different students.

Support

Smaller steps

  • Start with 14/21, 15/35 and 26/39, where the only shared factor other than 1 is the greatest one.
  • Let students divide by any shared factor and repeat until nothing is shared.
  • Give a multiplication chart for finding factors.
On level

Teach as written

  • Parts A to D, using the factor box for at least one fraction from Part C.
  • Students check each answer by multiplying its top and bottom by the greatest common factor.
Extension

Work backwards

  • Write three fractions that reduce to 3/5, each with a different greatest common factor.
  • Write each improper answer as a mixed number.
  • Explain why 25/36 is in simplest form even though neither number is prime.

Curriculum alignment.

Each one is checked against the official document. Where the resource covers only part of a standard, the note says so.

Australian Curriculum: Mathematics · Year 7
AC9M7N04Equivalent fractions and simplest form

Students find the greatest common factor of the top and bottom numbers, write fractions in simplest form (including fractions greater than one) and decide whether a fraction is already in simplest form; decimals, percentages and number lines are not covered.

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Reducing Fractions Worksheet · 2 pages
Reducing Fractions Worksheet: a worked example reducing 18/42 by its GCF, a find-the-GCF box, 16 fractions to reduce and four yes-or-no checks
Page 1 of 2 · Page 1
Reducing Fractions Worksheet: answer key with each reduced fraction and its GCF, a sample factor list for 60/84, yes-or-no answers and a tip
Page 2 of 2 · Page 2
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