Setting Up Fractions, Reducing

1. • 1. Review: Improper Fractions, Mixed Numbers,
Equivalent Fractions, Discuss HW
• 2. Reducing Fractions
• 3. Comparing Fractions
• 4. Finding the Lowest Common Denominator
• 5. Setting Up Fractions and Reducing (Word
Problems)
• NO CLASS MONDAY. I am going to a conference
in Kent. Lucky me.

2. • Change to a mixed number.
• Change to an improper fraction.
• Raise to higher terms.

3. • Summary: Reducing changes the numbers in
a fraction, but it does not change the VALUE
of a fraction.
Example: Reduce
To reduce a fraction,
you divide both the •Step 1: Divide
numerator and both 14 and 16
denominator by a
by a number
number that goes
into them both that goes evenly
evenly. into both of
them.

4. • Summary: Reducing changes the numbers in
a fraction, but it does not change the VALUE
of a fraction.
•Step 1: Divide Example: Reduce
both 30 and 45
by a number
that goes evenly
into both of
them.

5. • Measurement problems often require you to write
one amount as a fraction of a larger unit.
• This will require you to know how to set up
fractions and reduce to lowest terms.
What fraction of a yard is 32 inches, if one
yard equals 36 inches?
• What is the part? 32
• What is the whole? 36

7. • Summary: To compare fractions, you must have the
same denominators. Raise each fraction to higher
terms, then the new compare numerators.
Example: Which fraction is bigger,
•Step 1: Find a
common denominator ×7 21
for 5 and 7 and raise to 7
higher terms. ×7 5) 35
•Step 2: Look at the
numerators and
decide which one is
×5 25 5
×5 7) 35
bigger.

8. • You will need to know how to set up fractions
and reduce them.
Example: John makes $800 a month. He pays $200 a
month to rent a room. What fraction of his income does
John pay for rent?
• Step 1: Find the whole.
Write it in the denominator.
• Step 2: Find the part. Write
it in the numerator.
• Step 3: Reduce.

9. Example: Frank bought a 100-pound bag of cement. He
used 20 pounds of cement to fix the steps at the back of
his house. What part of the cement was left?
• Step 1: Find the whole.
100-30=70
Write it in the denominator.
• Step 2: Find the part. The
part that is left of the cement.
• Step 3: Reduce.

10. Example: Gordon’s baseball team won 12 games and lost
6 last season. What fraction of the games did they win?
• Step 1: Find the whole.
(wins+losses=total games)
Write it in the denominator. 12+6=18
• Step 2: Find the part. The
part they won is given in the
problem.
• Step 3: Reduce.