Equivalent Fractions and Fractions in Simplest Form

Two or more fractions that name the same number are called equivalent fractions

2/3, 4/6, and 8/12 are equivalent fractions

If the numerator and the denominator of a fraction are both multiplied or divided by the same number (not 0), the result is an equivalent fraction

The numerator and the denominator of 2/3 when multiplied by 2 gives an equivalent fraction 4/6 or (2 x 2) / (3 x 2) = 4/6

The numerator and the denominator of 3/9 when divided by 3 gives an equivalent fraction 3/9 or (3 ÷ 3) / (9 ÷ 3) = 1/3

Simplest form of a fraction is the equivalent fraction that uses the smallest numbers to express the same value

Simplest form of a fraction can be found by dividing the numerator and the denominator by the greatest common factor

Common factors of 12 and 16 are 1, 2, and 4. So, the greatest common factor is 4

Rulers marked in inches usually have tick marks of different lengths

If a ruler has 16 divisions between each whole inch, every tick mark on the ruler can be named by a number of sixteenths, eighths, fourths, halves, and ones

If a ruler has 16 divisions between each whole inch, the shortest marks show the sixteenths of an inch