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: 104/26
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 104 = 23 × 13
- 26 = 2 × 13
- 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 (104; 26) = 2 × 13 = 26
104/26 = (104 ÷ 26)/(26 ÷ 26) = 4/1 = 4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
104/26 = (23 × 13)/(2 × 13) = ((23 × 13) ÷ (2 × 13))/((2 × 13) ÷ (2 × 13)) = 4/1 = 4
The fraction: 114/29
114/29 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 114 = 2 × 3 × 19
- 29 is a prime number.
- GCF (114; 29) = 1