Reducing fractions to their simplest form by dividing by the highest common factor.
Where your child meets this in real life: Expressing answers in simplest form for clarity (e.g., 6/8 = ¾)
SEAGReady breaks simplify fractions into 2 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Simplify fractions by dividing both numerator and denominator by a common factor they share
supporting lesson — excluded from official-format mocks
Identify the highest common factor and reduce fractions completely to their simplest (lowest terms) form
Three free sample questions from our simplify fractions course. Every question comes with a full explanation, and hints that guide without giving the answer away.
The diagram shows 9 counters, with 6 shaded. What fraction is shaded, in its simplest form?
The Venn diagram sorts the factors of 8 and 12. What is the highest common factor?
Use the highest common factor to simplify 8/10 fully.
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Ruby baked a tray of 9 brownies. She saved 6 of them for her mum.
Write the fraction of brownies she saved in a simpler form.
⁶⁄₉ = ?
Look at 6 and 9. What number goes into both?
Step 1 of 3
Ruby baked a tray of 9 brownies. She saved 6 of them for her mum.
Write the fraction of brownies she saved in a simpler form.
Ruby saved ²⁄₃ of the brownies for her mum.
The key insight: Dividing top and bottom by the same number gives an equivalent fraction!
Common mix-up: ⁶⁄₉ = ³⁄₆ (dividing by different numbers). You must divide both numerator and denominator by the SAME number.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in simplify fractions, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Struggling with simplify fractions? The real gap is often in one of these earlier topics.
SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.
Free to start · no card needed