Simplify the operation
Reduce (simplify) the fractions to their lowest terms equivalents:
- To reduce a fraction to the lowest terms equivalent: divide both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor, GCF.
The fraction: 1/10
1/10 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 1 cannot be factored into other prime factors.
- 10 = 2 × 5
- GCF (1; 10) = 1
The fraction: 4/14
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 4 = 22
- 14 = 2 × 7
- Multiply all the common prime factors: if there are repeating prime factors we only take them once, and only the ones having the lowest exponent (the lowest powers).
- GCF (4; 14) = 2
4/14 = (4 ÷ 2)/(14 ÷ 2) = 2/7
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
4/14 = 22/(2 × 7) = (22 ÷ 2)/((2 × 7) ÷ 2) = 2/7