Simplifying
Squid
includes a cute 6 paged A5 booklet about simplifying
fractions. Simplifying Squid explains how to do this in a
simple way. Answer key is included.
Simplifying Squid
Thank you for purchasing this product. This includes a 6
paged A5 booklet about simplifying fractions. Simply
staple the booklet together and your students can keep it
to remind themselves how to simplify fractions.
This booklet is in black and white and the answer key is
provided.
I hope that you find this resource useful in your class.
When you get a chance, please also don’t forget to
provide feedback as this helps to improve both my
existing and future products.
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Font: Kevin and Amanda
Graphics:
Name:_________
Simplifying Squid
1.
Hello I’m Simplifying Squid, your simple and smart friend.
You know what makes me mad? Fractions that aren’t in simplest
form.
Look at these fractions:
2
4
3
12
14
21
They’re not in simplest form. I don’t like them like that!
1
2
Take a look at 2 and 4 .
1
2
2
Simplest
Form
4
1
Not
Simplest
Form
2
The fractions are equal. But 2 is written in its simplest form.
isn’t. How
4
can you tell when a fraction is in simplest form? The easiest way is to just try
reducing. If you can’t reduce, the fraction is probably in its simplest form.
2.
But how do you write a fraction in
simplest form Simplifying Squid?
What about a fraction like
14
?
21
No sweat, Starfish! Here’s one way:
Just think: What is the LARGEST number that divides evenly into both
14 and 21? That’s right. It’s 7.
14 ÷ 7
2
=
21 ÷ 7
3
So just divide both 14 and 21 by 7. In simplest form,
2
14
equals 3 .
21
So you see, if you do it the Simplifying Squid way, writing fractions in
simplest form can be a piece of fish!
3.
Lets first go back to basics and find the LARGEST number that divides
evenly into these fractions. The largest number will either be the
numerator or smaller than the numerator. This is because you cannot
divide the numerator by a larger number. I did the first one for you.
12
16
The largest number that divides
evenly into both numbers is: 4
Circle the numbers that divide evenly into 12:
12: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Circle the numbers that divide evenly into 16:
16: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
8
16
The largest number that divides
evenly into both numbers is: ___
Circle the numbers that divide evenly into 8:
8: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Circle the numbers that divide evenly into 16:
16: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
6
24
The largest number that divides
evenly into both numbers is: ___
6 ÷ 12
24 ÷ 12
You can’t divide 6 by
12! So remember it
has to be a number
that is the same or
less than the
numerator.
Circle the numbers that divide evenly into 6:
6: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Circle the numbers that divide evenly into 24:
24: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
10
15
The largest number that divides
evenly into both numbers is: ___
Circle the numbers that divide evenly into 10:
10: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Circle the numbers that divide evenly into 15:
15: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
4.
To see how easy this is, shade or color the portion of each
picture to represent the fraction. Then finish writing the
fraction in simplified terms by finding the LARGEST number
that divides evenly into both numbers. I did the first one for
you. Good luck and happy inking!
2.
1.
4 ÷4
=
12 ÷ 4
1
3
4 ÷
8 ÷
4.
3 ÷
12 ÷
3.
1
=
4 ÷
10 ÷
5.
=
4
4 ÷
6 ÷
=
5
6.
=
2
3 ÷
9 ÷
=
1
5.
Well done my friend!
Try these problems. I did the first one for you.
1.
5 ÷ 5
1
=
10 ÷ 5
2
7.
8
32
2.
6
14
8.
40
80
3.
4
20
9.
12
28
4.
7
21
10. 20
70
5.
6
18
11.
15
25
6.
6
8
12.
10
15
Remember find the
LARGEST number
that divides evenly
into both numbers!
6.
ANSWERS
To see how easy this is, shade or color the portion of each
picture to represent the fraction. Then finish writing the
fraction in simplified terms by finding the LARGEST number
that divides evenly into both numbers. I did the first one for
you. Good luck and happy inking!
2.
1.
4 ÷4
=
12 ÷ 4
1
3
4.
3.
4 ÷4
=
8 ÷4
1
2
4 ÷2
=
10 ÷ 2
5.
3 ÷3
=
12 ÷ 3
1
4
2
5
6.
4 ÷2
=
6 ÷2
2
3
3 ÷3
=
9 ÷3
1
3
ANSWERS
Well done my friend!
Try these problems. I did the first one for you.
1.
5 ÷ 5
1
=
10 ÷ 5
2
7.
8 ÷ 8
1
=
32 ÷ 8
4
2.
3
6 ÷ 2
=
7
14 ÷ 2
8.
40 ÷ 40 1
=
80 ÷ 40 2
3.
4 ÷ 4 = 1
20 ÷ 4
5
9.
12 ÷ 4 = 3
28 ÷ 4
7
4.
7 ÷ 7
1
=
21 ÷ 7
3
÷ 10 = 2
10. 20
70 ÷ 10 7
5.
6
18
÷ 6
1
=
3
÷ 6
11.
15 ÷ 5 = 3
5
25 ÷ 5
6.
6
8
÷ 2
3
=
÷ 2
4
12.
10 ÷ 5
2
=
15 ÷ 5
3
Remember find the
LARGEST number
that divides evenly
into both numbers!
ANSWERS
Lets first go back to basics and find the LARGEST number that divides
evenly into these fractions. The largest number will either be the
numerator or smaller than the numerator. This is because you cannot
divide the numerator by a larger number. I did the first one for you.
12
16
The largest number that divides
evenly into both numbers is: 4
Circle the numbers that divide evenly into 12:
12: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Circle the numbers that divide evenly into 16:
16: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
8
16
The largest number that divides
evenly into both numbers is: 8
Circle the numbers that divide evenly into 8:
8: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Circle the numbers that divide evenly into 16:
16: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
6
24
The largest number that divides
evenly into both numbers is: 6
Circle the numbers that divide evenly into 6:
6: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Circle the numbers that divide evenly into 24:
24: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
10
15
The largest number that divides
evenly into both numbers is: 5
Circle the numbers that divide evenly into 10:
10: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Circle the numbers that divide evenly into 15:
15: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
6 ÷ 12
24 ÷ 12
You can’t divide 6 by
12! So remember it
has to be a number
that is the same or
less than the
numerator.