## anonymous 3 years ago 7/8 times 39/180 and simplify. I keep getting 273/1440 but it's telling me I'm wrong.

1. jdoe0001

it's correct :), you just need to SIMPLIFY it :)

2. anonymous

How?

3. jdoe0001

do you know what simplifying means?

4. anonymous

Sometimes. (-:. I guess I should divide 273 by 1440. Is that right?

5. jdoe0001

well, yes and no, you should to the extent you're still left with a fraction, so, $$\cfrac{2}{4} \ simplifies\ to\ \cfrac{1}{2}$$

6. naveen

Ok, so that was easy. But I cant think of where to start. 273 is a large number as is 1440. Is there a trick?

7. jdoe0001

so $$\cfrac{1}{2}\times 2 = \cfrac{2}{4}$$, same proportions, with just a multiplier, in this case "2"

8. jdoe0001

well, sorta, 273, 2+7+3 =12, 12 is divisible by 3, start from there, divide both by 3 :), see if that works

9. naveen

Suppose it was 123/457?

10. jdoe0001

well, then I'd check what I can get from the numbers, usually you start small, 2, or 3, or 4 and so on, the smallest integer you can divide, NOT 1 of course, so 2 and so on, yo have 273, is not divisible by 2, so I checked with 3 :)

11. jdoe0001

let me see if I can make a quick table of both of those numbers, simplifying

12. jdoe0001