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: 15/1,005
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 15 = 3 × 5
- 1,005 = 3 × 5 × 67
- 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 (15; 1,005) = 3 × 5 = 15
15/1,005 = (15 ÷ 15)/(1,005 ÷ 15) = 1/67
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
15/1,005 = (3 × 5)/(3 × 5 × 67) = ((3 × 5) ÷ (3 × 5))/((3 × 5 × 67) ÷ (3 × 5)) = 1/67
The fraction: 17/1,010
17/1,010 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 17 is a prime number.
- 1,010 = 2 × 5 × 101
- GCF (17; 1,010) = 1