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: 1/25
1/25 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 1 cannot be factored into other prime factors.
- 25 = 52
- GCF (1; 25) = 1
The fraction: 10/28
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 10 = 2 × 5
- 28 = 22 × 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 (10; 28) = 2
10/28 = (10 ÷ 2)/(28 ÷ 2) = 5/14
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
10/28 = (2 × 5)/(22 × 7) = ((2 × 5) ÷ 2)/((22 × 7) ÷ 2) = 5/14