Year 6 Maths: Lowest Term

What is Lowest Term?

Hello, Year 6! Today, we’re going to learn about something called the lowest term. When we talk about fractions, the lowest term is the simplest form of that fraction. It’s when we make a fraction smaller by using the smallest numbers possible.

What is a Fraction?

A fraction consists of two numbers:

• The top number is called the numerator.
• The bottom number is called the denominator.

For example, in the fraction $$\frac{4}{8}$$ :

• 4 is the numerator.
• 8 is the denominator.

Why Use Lowest Term?

Using the lowest term makes fractions easier to understand and compare. It helps us see how much of something we really have!

How to Find the Lowest Term

To find the lowest term of a fraction, we need to do the following steps:

1. Find the Greatest Common Divisor (GCD): This is the largest number that divides both the numerator and the denominator without leaving a remainder.
2. Divide both numbers: Divide the numerator and the denominator by the GCD.

Example 1:

Let’s find the lowest term for the fraction $$\frac{6}{9}$$ .

1. Find the GCD of 6 and 9: The GCD is 3.
2. Divide both the numerator and denominator by 3:
   • $$\frac{6 \div 3}{9 \div 3} = \frac{2}{3}$$

So, the lowest term of $$\frac{6}{9}$$ is $$\frac{2}{3}$$ .

Example 2:

Now, let’s try the fraction $$\frac{12}{16}$$ .

1. Find the GCD of 12 and 16: The GCD is 4.
2. Divide both the numerator and denominator by 4:
   • $$\frac{12 \div 4}{16 \div 4} = \frac{3}{4}$$

So, the lowest term of $$\frac{12}{16}$$ is $$\frac{3}{4}$$ .

Key Rules

1. Always look for the GCD.
2. Divide both the numerator and denominator by the GCD.
3. If the numerator and denominator have no common factors other than 1, the fraction is already in its lowest term.

Tips and Tricks

• List the factors: For small numbers, list out the factors to find the GCD.
• Practice: The more you practice, the easier it gets!
• Use a calculator: For bigger numbers, a calculator can help you find the GCD quickly.

Questions for Practice

Easy Level Questions

1. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{4}{8}$$ ?
2. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{2}{6}$$ ?
3. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{10}{15}$$ ?
4. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{12}{18}$$ ?
5. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{5}{10}$$ ?
6. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{8}{12}$$ ?
7. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{9}{27}$$ ?
8. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{6}{24}$$ ?
9. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{3}{9}$$ ?
10. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{14}{21}$$ ?
11. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{18}{30}$$ ?
12. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{7}{14}$$ ?
13. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{0}{5}$$ ?
14. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{8}{20}$$ ?
15. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{15}{45}$$ ?
16. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{20}{25}$$ ?
17. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{16}{48}$$ ?
18. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{24}{36}$$ ?
19. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{2}{4}$$ ?
20. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{11}{22}$$ ?

Medium Level Questions

1. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{24}{32}$$ ?
2. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{30}{45}$$ ?
3. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{28}{42}$$ ?
4. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{50}{75}$$ ?
5. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{16}{64}$$ ?
6. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{36}{60}$$ ?
7. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{48}{72}$$ ?
8. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{27}{81}$$ ?
9. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{14}{28}$$ ?
10. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{72}{108}$$ ?
11. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{35}{50}$$ ?
12. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{45}{90}$$ ?
13. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{18}{54}$$ ?
14. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{40}{56}$$ ?
15. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{60}{84}$$ ?
16. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{33}{99}$$ ?
17. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{20}{30}$$ ?
18. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{42}{126}$$ ?
19. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{3}{6}$$ ?
20. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{9}{36}$$ ?

Hard Level Questions

1. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{56}{98}$$ ?
2. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{84}{126}$$ ?
3. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{100}{400}$$ ?
4. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{144}{216}$$ ?
5. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{150}{225}$$ ?
6. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{225}{300}$$ ?
7. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{180}{240}$$ ?
8. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{56}{112}$$ ?
9. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{90}{270}$$ ?
10. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{64}{128}$$ ?
11. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{81}{243}$$ ?
12. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{36}{48}$$ ?
13. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{72}{90}$$ ?
14. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{60}{80}$$ ?
15. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{54}{81}$$ ?
16. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{33}{66}$$ ?
17. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{18}{27}$$ ?
18. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{30}{60}$$ ?
19. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{45}{135}$$ ?
20. What is the lowest term of $$\frac{80}{200}$$ ?

Answers and Explanations

Easy Level Answers

1. $$\frac{1}{2}$$
2. $$\frac{1}{3}$$
3. $$\frac{2}{3}$$
4. $$\frac{2}{3}$$
5. $$\frac{1}{2}$$
6. $$\frac{2}{3}$$
7. $$\frac{1}{3}$$
8. $$\frac{1}{4}$$
9. $$\frac{1}{3}$$
10. $$\frac{2}{3}$$
11. $$\frac{3}{5}$$
12. $$\frac{1}{2}$$
13. $$\frac{0}{1}$$ (Zero is a special case)
14. $$\frac{2}{5}$$
15. $$\frac{1}{3}$$
16. $$\frac{4}{5}$$
17. $$\frac{1}{3}$$
18. $$\frac{2}{3}$$
19. $$\frac{1}{2}$$
20. $$\frac{1}{2}$$

Medium Level Answers

1. $$\frac{3}{4}$$
2. $$\frac{2}{3}$$
3. $$\frac{2}{3}$$
4. $$\frac{2}{3}$$
5. $$\frac{1}{4}$$
6. $$\frac{3}{5}$$
7. $$\frac{2}{3}$$
8. $$\frac{1}{3}$$
9. $$\frac{1}{2}$$
10. $$\frac{2}{3}$$
11. $$\frac{1}{2}$$
12. $$\frac{1}{2}$$
13. $$\frac{1}{3}$$
14. $$\frac{5}{9}$$
15. $$\frac{5}{7}$$
16. $$\frac{1}{3}$$
17. $$\frac{2}{3}$$
18. $$\frac{1}{3}$$
19. $$\frac{1}{2}$$
20. $$\frac{1}{3}$$

Hard Level Answers

1. $$\frac{4}{7}$$
2. $$\frac{2}{3}$$
3. $$\frac{1}{4}$$
4. $$\frac{2}{3}$$
5. $$\frac{2}{3}$$
6. $$\frac{3}{4}$$
7. $$\frac{3}{4}$$
8. $$\frac{1}{2}$$
9. $$\frac{1}{3}$$
10. $$\frac{1}{2}$$
11. $$\frac{1}{3}$$
12. $$\frac{3}{4}$$
13. $$\frac{3}{4}$$
14. $$\frac{3}{4}$$
15. $$\frac{2}{3}$$
16. $$\frac{1}{2}$$
17. $$\frac{2}{3}$$
18. $$\frac{1}{2}$$
19. $$\frac{1}{3}$$
20. $$\frac{2}{5}$$

Now you have learned about the lowest term! Keep practising and you will become a fraction expert in no time!