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: 15/9,900
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 15 = 3 × 5
- 9,900 = 22 × 32 × 52 × 11
- 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; 9,900) = 3 × 5 = 15
15/9,900 = (15 ÷ 15)/(9,900 ÷ 15) = 1/660
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
15/9,900 = (3 × 5)/(22 × 32 × 52 × 11) = ((3 × 5) ÷ (3 × 5))/((22 × 32 × 52 × 11) ÷ (3 × 5)) = 1/660
The fraction: 22/9,904
- 22 = 2 × 11
- 9,904 = 24 × 619
- GCF (22; 9,904) = 2
22/9,904 = (22 ÷ 2)/(9,904 ÷ 2) = 11/4,952
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
22/9,904 = (2 × 11)/(24 × 619) = ((2 × 11) ÷ 2)/((24 × 619) ÷ 2) = 11/4,952