In this video, we will simplify (reduce) the fraction 19/5 into its simplest form. The key to simplifying fractions is to find a number that goes into both the numerator and denominator.
The number 1 will divide evenly into both 19 and 5.
We can list all of the factors that divide evenly into 19 and 5. When we do so, we see that 1 is the highest common factor for both numbers.
If we divide 19 by 1, we get 19. If we divide 5 by 1, we get 5.
This means that we can simplify 19/5 to 19/5. The fractions are equivalent. If you check on a calculator, you will find that they have the same decimal value. So we haven't changed the quantity, just the way the fraction is expressed.
Now, if we want to convert 19/5 to a mixed number, here's how we do it:
To get 19/5 as a mixed number, we divide the numerator (19) by the denominator (5). The result is 3 with a remainder of 4. This means that 19/5 can be written as the mixed number 3 4/5. The whole number 3 represents how many times 5 goes into 19, and the fraction 4/5 represents the remainder.
