Education Technology


Factors Galore A: Common Factors

Activity Overview

Students practice simplifying fractions in a game format by dividing the numerator and denominator by the greatest common factor.

Before the Activity

  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 5 - 9 from the attached PDF file for your class

During the Activity

Distribute the pages to the class.

Follow the Activity procedures:

  • Enter an unsimplified fraction
  • Predict the grestest common factor of the numerator and denominator
  • Use the calculator to verify if the prediction is correct
  • Repeat the guessing and verifying process until the fraction is completely simplified
  • Understand how the calculator evaluates the predicted value
  • Repeat the activity with other fractions
  • After the Activity

    Students complete the Student Activity sheet.

    Review student results:

  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary