Chapter SH, Problem 6.1.1EP

To determine

To calculate: The fraction of the ratio in simplest form.

Answer to Problem 6.1.1EP

The required simplest form the fraction is $\frac{3}{8}$ .

Explanation of Solution

Given information:

The ratio = 15 vans out of 40 vehicles

Calculation:

The ratio can be expressed in the fraction as,

  $\frac{15}{40}$

To find the simplest form of the above fraction, find the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator that is, 15 and 40.

  $15=3\times 5$

  $40=2\times 2\times 2\times 5$

Thus, the greatest common factor of 15 and 40 is 5.

Divide the numerator and the denominator of the fraction by 7.

  $\begin{array}{c}\frac{\frac{15}{5}}{\frac{40}{5}}=\frac{\frac{\cancel{15}}{\cancel{5}}}{\frac{\cancel{40}}{\cancel{5}}}\\ =\frac{3}{8}\end{array}$

Hence, the required simplest form the fraction is $\frac{3}{8}$ .