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: 137/39
137/39 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 137 is a prime number.
- 39 = 3 × 13
- GCF (137; 39) = 1
The fraction: 147/49
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 147 = 3 × 72
- 49 = 72
- 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 (147; 49) = 72 = 49
147/49 = (147 ÷ 49)/(49 ÷ 49) = 3/1 = 3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
147/49 = (3 × 72)/72 = ((3 × 72) ÷ 72)/(72 ÷ 72) = 3/1 = 3