How to Simplify the Fraction 17/12 (and as a Mixed Fraction)

In this video, we will simplify (reduce) the fraction 17/12 into its simplest form. The key to simplifying fractions is to find a number that goes into both the numerator and denominator.

The number 1 will divide evenly into both 17 and 12.

We can list all of the factors that divide evenly into 17 and 12. When we do so, we see that 1 is the highest common factor for both numbers.

If we divide 17 by 1, we get 17.
If we divide 12 by 1, we get 12.

This means that we can simplify 17/12 to 17/12. The fractions are equivalent. If you check on a calculator, you will find that they have the same decimal value. So we haven't changed the quantity, just the way the fraction is expressed.

Now, if we want to convert 17/12 to a mixed number, here's how we do it:

To get 17/12 as a mixed number, we divide the numerator (17) by the denominator (12). The result is 1 with a remainder of 5. This means that 17/12 can be written as the mixed number 1 5/12. The whole number 1 represents how many times 12 goes into 17, and the fraction 5/12 represents the remainder.