# Reduce Fractions Calculator

Simplify or reduce a fraction into the simplest form. See all of the steps used to simplify the fraction to show your work. Use the “/” symbol as the fraction bar.

## Solution:

 25 3
=8
 1 3

$$Reduce the fraction by finding the greatest common factor. The greatest common factor of 25 and 3 is 1Divide the numerator and denominator by the greatest common factor (1)25 ÷ 13 ÷ 1=253Convert the fraction to a mixed fraction by finding the whole number and remainder25÷3=8R1253=813Find the decimal by dividing the numerator by the denominator253=8.3333333333333$$

## How to Reduce a Fraction

The first step to reducing a fraction is to find the greatest common factor between the numerator and the denominator. For example, if the fraction is 6/8, find the factors of 6 and of 8. The factors of 6 are [1,2,3,6] and the factors of 8 are [1,2,4,8]. The greatest factor that is common to both is 2, so 2 is the greatest common factor. See our greatest common factor calculator for additional information on finding the greatest common factor.

To reduce the fraction, divide both the numerator and the denominator by the greatest common factor. Continuing the above example, 6/8 = (6 ÷ 2) / (8 ÷ 2) = 3/4. 3/4 is the simplified form of 6/8 after reducing.

Some fractions are larger than 1, which is when the numerator is larger than the denominator. For example, 12/8 would simplify to 3/2. When the numerator is larger than the denominator it is often helpful to reduce the fraction further into a mixed number. To do this, divide the denominator by the numerator and set the whole number as the whole number and the remainder as the numerator over the original denominator. For example, 3 ÷ 2 = 1 R1, or 1 1/2.