Question

Reduce the following to their lowest form:

(a) $\frac{7}{10}$

(b) $\frac{27}{72}$

Answer 1

(a) Here, numerator = 7 and denominator = 10.

Factors of 7 are 1,7.
Factors of 10 are 1,2,5,10.
Common factors of 7 and 10 is 1 only.
HCF of 7 and 10 is 1.
Hence, $\frac{7}{10}$ is in the simplest form.

(a) In $\frac{27}{72}$, numerator = 27, denominator = 72.
Now, $27=3\times 3\times 3and72=3\times 3\times 2\times 2\times 2$
$HCF=3\times 3=9$
$\frac{27}{72}=\frac{27÷9}{72÷9}=\frac{3}{8}$
Hence, $\frac{27}{72}$ in its lowest term $=\frac{3}{8}$