Numerator: The top part of a fraction (ie. (x+5)/(2x+3)). Denominator: The bottom part of the fraction (ie. (x+5)/(2x+3)). Common Denominator: This is a number that you can divide out of both the top and bottom of a fraction. For example, in the fraction 3/9, the common denominator is 3, since both numbers can be divided by 3. Factor: One number that multiples to make another. For example, the factors of 15 are 1, 3, 5, and 15. The factors of 4 are 1, 2, and 4. Simplified Equation: This involves removing all common factors and grouping similar variables together (5x + x = 6x) until you have the most basic form of a fraction, equation, or problem. If you cannot do anything more to the fraction, it is simplified.
Example: x2 - 25 = (x+5)(x-5)
