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: 142/71
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 142 = 2 × 71
- 71 is a prime number.
- 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 (142; 71) = 71
142/71 = (142 ÷ 71)/(71 ÷ 71) = 2/1 = 2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
142/71 = (2 × 71)/71 = ((2 × 71) ÷ 71)/(71 ÷ 71) = 2/1 = 2
The fraction: 147/80
147/80 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 147 = 3 × 72
- 80 = 24 × 5
- GCF (147; 80) = 1