document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=831481>Question 831481</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I having problems simplifying fractions. I am totally lost, I don't understand where I have to start. Could you please provide me with the simplest step to solving the problem.   \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Scott pick up 2/3 of a vote. Jason picked up 1/6 of a vote. What fraction did Scott win by?\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "From here I have to drag fractional pieces. Could you please help? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #501409 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=KMST><B>KMST(5328)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=KMST><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=KMST><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=501409\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The difference in votes, as a fraction of the total number of votes was<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2%2F3-1%2F6=4%2F6-1%2F6=3%2F6=highlight%281%2F2%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2%2F3-1%2F6=4%2F6-1%2F6=3%2F6=highlight%281%2F2%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Scott got <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2%2F3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2%2F3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > of the vote, and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2%2F3=4%2F6 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2%2F3=4%2F6\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, so the difference is<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4%2F6-1%2F6=3%2F6 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4%2F6-1%2F6=3%2F6\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > .<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Then we simplify to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > because <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3%2F6=1%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3%2F6=1%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > .<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Those fractions represent the same number, just written in a different way.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "They have the same value, so we say they are equivalent.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " <BR>\n" );
document.write( "You can see that <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2%2F3=4%2F6 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2%2F3=4%2F6\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > because any cake that is cut into 3 equal pieces (thirds) can be made into 6 equal pieces by cutting each piece in half.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "That doubles the total number of pieces to 6, so each (smaller)piece is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F6 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F6\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > .<BR>\n" );
document.write( "At the same time, each of the <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > pieces turns into two <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F6 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F6\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > pieces, so getting <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2%2F3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2%2F3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > of the cake is the same as getting <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4%2F6 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4%2F6\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > of the cake.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=drawing%28600%2C300%2C-12%2C72%2C-10%2C32%2C%0D%0Arectangle%280%2C0%2C60%2C30%29%2C%0D%0Agreen%28line%2820%2C0%2C20%2C30%29%29%2Cgreen%28line%2840%2C0%2C40%2C30%29%29%2C%0D%0Aline%2840%2C-0.5%2C40%2C-7%29%2Carrow%2840%2C-7%2C0%2C-7%29%2C%0D%0Alocate%2812%2C-1%2C2%2F3%29%2Clocate%2815%2C-2%2Cfor%29%2Clocate%2820%2C-2%2Cme%29%0D%0A%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > ---> <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=drawing%28600%2C300%2C-12%2C72%2C-10%2C32%2C%0D%0Arectangle%280%2C0%2C60%2C30%29%2C%0D%0Agreen%28line%2820%2C0%2C20%2C30%29%29%2Cgreen%28line%2840%2C0%2C40%2C30%29%29%2C%0D%0Aline%2840%2C-0.5%2C40%2C-7%29%2Carrow%2840%2C-7%2C0%2C-7%29%2C%0D%0Ared%28line%280%2C15%2C60%2C15%29%29%2C%0D%0Alocate%2812%2C-1%2C4%2F6%29%2Clocate%2815%2C-2%2Cfor%29%2Clocate%2820%2C-2%2Cme%29%0D%0A%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "To state that conclusion in a more general way, any fraction can be turned into an equivalent fraction by multiplying the numerator (the top number), and the denominator (the bottom number) by a number of your choice. (The same number is multiplied by both parts of the fraction, of course).<BR>\n" );
document.write( "And if multiplying works, dividing must work too,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "because dividing by 2 is the same as multiplying times <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > ,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "dividing by 3 is the same as multiplying times <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > , and so on.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "That makes <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3%2F6 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3%2F6\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > equivalent (equal) to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%223+%F7+3%22%2F%226+%F7+3%22=1%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%223+%F7+3%22%2F%226+%F7+3%22=1%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );