Rule 17: BUILDING FRACTIONS

To build a fraction is the reverse of reducing the fraction. Instead of searching for the 1 in a fraction so that you can reduce, you insert a 1 and build.

Example:: Create a fraction with 12 in the denominator that is equivalent to the fraction .
Answer:: The answer is .
Solution:: Recall that you can multiply any number by 1 without changing the value of the number. (Rule 6). Multiply the fraction by 1.
Recall that 1 has many forms, look for the form of 1 that will result in a denominator of 12.
Since 3 4 = 12, use the fraction 4/4 as 1. Now can be written as . The product is . We have created a fraction with a denominator equal to 12 that is equivalent to the fraction .
Check:: Use your calculator to show that is equivalent .

If you would like to review another example on this topic, click on Example.

Work the following problems and click on Answer to check your results.

Problem 1:: Create a fraction equivalent to that has a denominator of 35. Answer
Problem 2:: Create a fraction equivalent to that has a denominator of 33.Answer
Problem 3:: Create a fraction equivalent to that has a denominator of 50. Answer
Problem 4:: Create a fraction equivalent to that has a denominator of 40. Answer

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