186. The above is a good method for finding the least common multiple when the numbers are easily separated into their prime factors. For larger numbers observe the following method : ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE II. Find the 1. c. m. of 18, 56, 38, and those that are not common must be the 1. c. m. sought. Rule II. 187. To find the least common multiple of two or more numbers: 1. Write the given numbers in a line as dividends. Make any prime number which is a factor of two or more of the given numbers a divisor of those numbers. 2. Write the quotients and undivided numbers beneath as new dividends, and so continue dividing till the last quotients and undivided numbers are prime to each other. 3. The product of all the divisors, last quotients, and undivided numbers is the least common multiple required. 188. Examples for the Slate. Find the least common multiple 74. Of 84, 336, and 472. 75. Of 165, 9500, and 855. 76. Of 1146, 484, and 24. 77. Of 880, 9680, and 176. 78. Of 187, 539, and 8470. For other examples in multiples, see page 123. ᅡ SECTION IX. COMMON FRACTIONS. 189. If a unit, as 1 inch, is divided into two equal parts, + one of the parts is called one half. If the unit is divided into three equal parts, one of the + parts is called one third; two of the parts are called two thirds. One of the equal parts of a unit is a fraction, or fractional unit. A collection of fractional units is a fractional number. NOTE I. For the sake of brevity, fractional units and fractional numbers are both called fractions. NOTE II. A number whose units are entire things is an integral number, or an integer. Name a fractional unit; a fractional number; an integer. 190. The unit of which the fraction is a part is the unit of the fraction. 191. The number of equal parts into which the unit of the fraction is divided is the denominator of the fraction. Thus, in the fraction two thirds the denominator is three. 192. The number of equal parts taken is the numerator of the fraction. Thus, in the fraction two thirds the numerator is two. 193. The numerator and denominator are called the terms of the fraction. NOTE. Decimal fractions have been treated of in previous articles. fractions except decimal fractions are called common fractions. All Writing Common Fractions. 194. The terms of a fraction are written, the numerator above and the denominator below a line. Thus, two thirds of an inch is Numerator, 2 inch. Denominator, 3 written as in the margin. 195. Exercises. Write in figures the following: a. One half of a mile. b. One third of a day. C. d. Twenty twenty-fifths. e. Twelve thirds. Seven tenths of a dollar. f. Seven sevenths. g. Write any fraction you please, having for a denominator five; seven; ten; seventeen; one hundred. h. Write any fraction you please, having for a numerator six; eight; sixty; one hundred. i. Where is the denominator of a fraction written? Where is the numerator written? j. Which is the greater part of a thing, or ? for? 196. The form of writing fractions as shown above is the same as the fractional form used to indicate division. (Art. 94.) Thus the expression may mean two thirds of one or one third of two. The fact that of 1 ILLUSTRATION. equals of 2 may be illustrated as in the margin. of 1 equals of 2. 197. Exercises. a. What is meant by the expression ? Ans. It means 5 of the 9 equal parts into which a unit is divided, or it means 1 ninth of 5 units. b. What is meant by the expression ??? 13? f? Illustrate the fact that of 1 equals of 3; that % of 1 equals of 2. C. REDUCTION. To change a Fraction to smaller or larger terms. 198. ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE I. Change to equivalent fractions of smaller terms. WRITTEN WORK. Explanation. By dividing both terms of by 2, we make the terms half as large, and have the fraction. Now dividing both terms of the fraction by 3, we make its terms one third as large, and have the fraction . If we had divided both terms of 1 by 6, we should have made the terms one sixth as large, and obtained at once the fraction . If both terms of a fraction are divided by the same number, the value of the fraction will not be changed. 199. ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE II. Change to equivalent fractions of larger terms. increased as the size of the parts is diminished. If both terms of a fraction are multiplied by the same number, the value of the fraction will not be changed. 200. When the terms of a fraction have no common factor, the fraction is said to be expressed in its smallest terms. 201. Oral Exercises. Perform mentally the examples given below, naming results merely; thus, "1; 1; 1; 1," and so on. a. Change to their smallest terms: ; ; ; }; }; f; Pa; t; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; f; f;fs; fr. b. Change to their smallest terms: 14; 2; fe; fz; 20; 32; 84; 72; 48; 28; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 84; 83; 1. c. Change to their smallest terms: 1; 14; 38; 11; 11; 18; 18; 18; 88; J J ; Į Į ; J 1 ; 18; 15; 18; 8; 14%. 900 1700° d. Change to equivalent fractions, having 12, 16, 28, 44, 100, and 120 for denominators. e. Change to equivalent fractions, having 27, 54, 99, and 900 for denominators. f. Change,, 3, 1o, 11, 17, each to an equivalent fraction having 120 for a denominator. thirtieths in ? in ? in ? in ? in ? h. How many 24ths in §? in ? in ? in ? in } ? in § ? To change a Fraction to its smallest terms. 202. From previous illustrations we may derive the following Rule. To change a fraction to an equivalent fraction of the smallest terms: Strike out all the factors which are common to the numerator and denominator; or divide both terms by their greatest common factor. 203. Examples for the Slate. Change to equivalent fractions of smallest terms: |