Question

Reduce the fraction to their lowest terms.

$\frac{48}{72}$

Answer 1

A fraction is said to be in the lowest form (or simplest form) if the numerator and denominator are prime to each other i.e. numerator and denominator have no common factor other than $1$. Thus, in order to reduce a fraction to its lowest form, we divide the numerator and denominator by the same number ( preferably by HCF of the two numbers) until we obtain $1$as the only factor.

Here, the given fraction is $\frac{48}{72}$. To reduce it to the lowest form, we have

$\frac{48}{72}$$=\frac{48÷24}{72÷24}$ [ dividing numerator and denominator by $24$]

$=$$\frac{2}{3}$

Now, the only common factor of numerator and denominator in $\frac{2}{3}$ is $1$.

Therefore, the lowest form of $\frac{48}{72}$ is $\frac{2}{3}$.