Question

3. Express the rational numbers and
to the lowest term
-125/225 and -120/144​

Answer 1

Answer:

A rational number a/b is said to be in the lowest form or simplest form if a and b have no common factor other than 1.

In other words, a rational number abab is said to be in the simplest form, if the HCF of a and b is 1, i.e., a and b are relatively prime.

The rational number 3535 is in the lowest form, because 3 and 5 have no common factor other than 1. However, the rational number 18601860 is not in the lowest form, because 6 is a common factor to both numerator and denominator.

How to convert a rational number into lowest form or simplest form?

Every rational number can be put in the lowest form using the following steps:

Step I: Let us obtain the rational number abab.

Step II: Find the HCF of a and b.

Step III: If k = 1, then abab is in lowest form.

Step IV: If k ≠ 1, then a÷kb÷ka÷kb÷k is the lowest form of a/b.