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: 126/14
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 126 = 2 × 32 × 7
- 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 (126; 14) = 2 × 7 = 14
126/14 = (126 ÷ 14)/(14 ÷ 14) = 9/1 = 9
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
126/14 = (2 × 32 × 7)/(2 × 7) = ((2 × 32 × 7) ÷ (2 × 7))/((2 × 7) ÷ (2 × 7)) = 9/1 = 9
The fraction: 128/21
128/21 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 128 = 27
- 21 = 3 × 7
- GCF (128; 21) = 1