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: 173/26
173/26 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 173 is a prime number.
- 26 = 2 × 13
- GCF (173; 26) = 1
The fraction: 175/35
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 175 = 52 × 7
- 35 = 5 × 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 (175; 35) = 5 × 7 = 35
175/35 = (175 ÷ 35)/(35 ÷ 35) = 5/1 = 5
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
175/35 = (52 × 7)/(5 × 7) = ((52 × 7) ÷ (5 × 7))/((5 × 7) ÷ (5 × 7)) = 5/1 = 5