[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/simplify/)

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# simplify

verb (simplify, simplifies, simplified, simplifying)

«simplify» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To simplify something is to make it simpler or easier to understand or do. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simplify/#m1)
2. (maths) To simplify a fraction is to write it with smaller numbers that mean the same amount, by dividing the top and bottom by the same number. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simplify/#m2)
3. (maths) To simplify an expression is to write it in a shorter way, for example by collecting like terms. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simplify/#m3)

### In the lessons

In maths lessons it is a common instruction: «Simplify 6/8» means write it as 3/4. In algebra «simplify 2a + 3a» means 5a. In everyday life and writing it means removing extra details so something is clearer. Phrases: simplify a fraction, simplify fully, simplify the rules, in its simplest form.

### Examples

- Can you simplify the instructions for the little ones? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simplify/#x1)
- Simplify 10/15 by dividing both numbers by 5 to get 2/3. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simplify/#x2)
- Simplify 3x + 4x to get 7x. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simplify/#x3)
- The new app simplifies homework by putting it all in one place. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simplify/#x4)
- We simplified the game so everyone could play. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simplify/#x5)
- Always simplify your answer fully. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simplify/#x6)
- The teacher simplified the story for the younger class. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simplify/#x7)

### Note

Spelling: simplify, simplifies, simplified, simplifying (keep y before -ing). The noun is simplification. In maths, simplifying never changes the value: 4/8 and 1/2 are equal. «Simplify fully» means you cannot divide top and bottom by anything else (except 1).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «simplify» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/simplify/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«simplify» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/simplify.html) on Mova free.