REDUCTION OF VULGAR FRACTIONS. 6^ 



2. "VViiat is the least common multiple Ox- 4 and 6 ? 



Ans. 12. 



3. What is the least number, that 3, 4, 8 and 12 will 

 measure ? Ans. 24. 



4. What is the least number that can be diviaed by the 

 nine digits, without a re.-^ainder ? Ans. 25 2c. 



Reduction of Vulgar Frjctic^'^s. 



Reduction of Vulgar Fractions is the bringing them oiit.of 

 one form into another, in order to prepare them for ths 

 ooerations of addition, subtfaction, &c. 



CASE I. 



To abbreviate or reduce fractions to their lowest terms, 



RULE.* 



Divide the terms of the given fraction by any number 

 that will divide them without a remainder, and these quo- 

 tients 



* That dividing both the tcrm3 of the fraction equally, by any 

 number whatever, will give another fraction equal to the former, 

 is evident. And if those divisions are performed as often as c^n 

 be done, or the common divisor be the greatest possible, the 

 terms of the resulting fraction must be the least possible. 



Note i. Any number ending with an even number, or a cy- 

 pher, is divisible by 2. 



2. Any number ending with 5, or o, is divisible by 5. 



3. If the right-hand place of any number be o, the whole is 

 divisible by 10. 



4. If the two right-hand figures of any number are divisible by 

 4, the whole is divisible by 4. 



'5. If the three right-hand figures of any number are divisible 

 by 8, the whole is divisible by 8. 



6. If the sum of the digits constituting any number be divisi- 

 ble by 3, or 9, the whole is divisible by 3, or 9. 



7. If 



