SOLUTION: 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.

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Question 831481: 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.
Scott pick up 2/3 of a vote. Jason picked up 1/6 of a vote. What fraction did Scott win by?
From here I have to drag fractional pieces. Could you please help?
Found 2 solutions by KMST, rothauserc:
Answer by KMST(5328) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The difference in votes, as a fraction of the total number of votes was
2%2F3-1%2F6=4%2F6-1%2F6=3%2F6=highlight%281%2F2%29
Scott got 2%2F3 of the vote, and 2%2F3=4%2F6, so the difference is
4%2F6-1%2F6=3%2F6 .
Then we simplify to 1%2F2 because 3%2F6=1%2F2 .
Those fractions represent the same number, just written in a different way.
They have the same value, so we say they are equivalent.

You can see that 2%2F3=4%2F6 because any cake that is cut into 3 equal pieces (thirds) can be made into 6 equal pieces by cutting each piece in half.
That doubles the total number of pieces to 6, so each (smaller)piece is 1%2F6 .
At the same time, each of the 1%2F3 pieces turns into two 1%2F6 pieces, so getting 2%2F3 of the cake is the same as getting 4%2F6 of the cake.
--->
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).
And if multiplying works, dividing must work too,
because dividing by 2 is the same as multiplying times 1%2F2 ,
dividing by 3 is the same as multiplying times 1%2F3 , and so on.
That makes 3%2F6 equivalent (equal) to %223+%F7+3%22%2F%226+%F7+3%22=1%2F2

Answer by rothauserc(4718) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
in order to compare fractions, we must insure that they have the same denominator
We are given the fractions 2/3 and 1/6. Notice that 3 divides 6 evenly, so we will pick 6 as the common denominator.
We want to know how many 6ths are in 2/3 so we will solve the following equation
2/3 = x/6
cross multiply the two fractions and we get
3x = 12
x = 4
so 4/6 is equivalent to 2/3
Scott got 4/6 of the vote and Jason got 1/6 of vote and we can now subtract Jason's fraction from Scott's
4/6 - 1/6 = 3/6 or reduced it is 1/2
Scott won by 1/2 the vote