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: 103/12
103/12 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 103 is a prime number.
- 12 = 22 × 3
- GCF (103; 12) = 1
The fraction: 105/15
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 105 = 3 × 5 × 7
- 15 = 3 × 5
- 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 (105; 15) = 3 × 5 = 15
105/15 = (105 ÷ 15)/(15 ÷ 15) = 7/1 = 7
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
105/15 = (3 × 5 × 7)/(3 × 5) = ((3 × 5 × 7) ÷ (3 × 5))/((3 × 5) ÷ (3 × 5)) = 7/1 = 7