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: 14/84
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 14 = 2 × 7
- 84 = 22 × 3 × 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 (14; 84) = 2 × 7 = 14
14/84 = (14 ÷ 14)/(84 ÷ 14) = 1/6
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
14/84 = (2 × 7)/(22 × 3 × 7) = ((2 × 7) ÷ (2 × 7))/((22 × 3 × 7) ÷ (2 × 7)) = 1/6
The fraction: 21/93
- 21 = 3 × 7
- 93 = 3 × 31
- GCF (21; 93) = 3
21/93 = (21 ÷ 3)/(93 ÷ 3) = 7/31
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
21/93 = (3 × 7)/(3 × 31) = ((3 × 7) ÷ 3)/((3 × 31) ÷ 3) = 7/31