Help with fractions again!

[KBKMNN]

I think you know my track record with fractions, but I promise, I am getting better at them. :heh
However, I have another question. Right now we are dividing fractions, which we can pretty much do. But I would like to know if there is a relatively easy way to reduce a huge fraction. For example, a fraction like 414/711. I know the answer now, but it takes some frustrating work to find out what number goes into both of them. Am I missing an easier way to figure that out?
Thanks in advance for your help, 'cause I know there's alot of math whizzes here. :thumb

[fracturedInfinity]

Well, the thing I would do, and I don't know if this is the easiest way or not, but you can use the rule to see what number it is divisible by.

In this case, if you have a large number, you add each digit together. If the resulting number is divisible by 3, then the original number is divisible by 3.

414 = 4 + 1 + 4 = 9
711 = 7 + 1 + 1 = 9

9 is divisible by 3, so 414 and 711 are both divisible by 3, so you can use dividing both numbers by 3 to reduce it. Rinse and repeat on the resulting fraction until one of the numbers is either 1 or not divisible by the other.

That's how I would have done it now. Years ago in school, they taught us how to find the Greatest Common Factor, but I don't remember how to find that. I suppose what I did is just a more tedious way of doing what the greatest common factor would do for you.

[fracturedInfinity]

Here, these rules are really helpful to memorize if you deal a lot with fractions...

http://math.about.com/library/bldivide.htm

[KBKMNN]

Here, these rules are really helpful to memorize if you deal a lot with fractions...

http://math.about.com/library/bldivide.htm

Thank you! :hat