Simplifying Fractions: 161/16 to the Lowest Form
In this article, we will explore how to simplify the fraction 161/16 to its lowest form.
What is a Fraction?
A fraction is a way to represent a part of a whole. It consists of a numerator (the top number) and a denominator (the bottom number). The numerator tells us how many equal parts we have, and the denominator tells us how many parts the whole is divided into.
Simplifying Fractions
Simplifying fractions means reducing them to their simplest form. This is done by dividing both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD).
Greatest Common Divisor (GCD)
The GCD of two numbers is the largest number that divides both numbers without leaving a remainder.
Simplifying 161/16
To simplify the fraction 161/16, we need to find the GCD of 161 and 16.
Step 1: Find the Factors of 161
The factors of 161 are: 1, 7, 23, 161
Step 2: Find the Factors of 16
The factors of 16 are: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16
Step 3: Find the Greatest Common Divisor (GCD)
The GCD of 161 and 16 is 1, since 1 is the only common factor.
Step 4: Simplify the Fraction
Since the GCD is 1, we can simplify the fraction by dividing both the numerator and the denominator by 1.
161 ÷ 1 = 161 16 ÷ 1 = 16
The simplified fraction is still 161/16, since the GCD is 1.
Conclusion
The simplified form of the fraction 161/16 is 161/16, since the GCD is 1. This means that the fraction is already in its simplest form.
Note: In some cases, a fraction may not simplify to a lower form, and this is one of them.
