how do you reduce 32/83 to the lowest terms

Question

I'm on I.X.L (a math practicing source  and One question said : write 32/83 in lowest terms.Help! I'm a fifth grader,not a senior in collage!

Answer 1

Jessica,

FAST and EASY WAY

1) Can 2,3,5,7, or 11 go into both numbers? Start with what I call easy numbers, 2, then 3, 5,7,and then 11. 

2) Remember the ways to check whether, 2, 3, and 5 go into a number.

3) if so, then divide both of them by the same easy number.

4) Keep doing this with the numbers you get until one or both the numbers cannot be divided by 2,3,5,7, or 11.

MORE EXPLANATION

I find it helpful to check whether any easy number can divide (or go into) both of the numbers you have--32 and 83. The easy number to start with is always 2. Then after 2, there is 3, then 5, then 7, then 11. For the most part, any problem you are given at your grade the easy numbers 2,3,5,7,11. They can be remember because 2 and 3 add up to 5. and then 7-11is that Slurpee store. By the way, these easy numbers are all prime numbers.

So, does 2 go into 32, the answers is yes. But 2 doesn't go into 83. Then 3, 5, 7, and 11 don't go into 32 nor into 83. So 32/83 probably cannot be reduced. By the way, since 83 is a prime number which means no other numbers but 1 and 83 go into 83, then 32/83 cannot be reduced any more.

 

 

 

 

Answer 2

My dear friend, that is the 5^th grade level question :)
To write a fraction in lowest term means to find the common factor(s), greater than 1, for numerator and denominator and to divide them both by that number(s).
14     14 ÷ 2        7 
— = ———— = ——
16     16 ÷ 2        8

In your case: 32 you can divide by 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 , but 83 is a prime number and has only one factor 83.
So, 32/83 is, already, in lowest term.