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: 183/40
183/40 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 183 = 3 × 61
- 40 = 23 × 5
- GCF (183; 40) = 1
The fraction: 188/47
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 188 = 22 × 47
- 47 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 (188; 47) = 47
188/47 = (188 ÷ 47)/(47 ÷ 47) = 4/1 = 4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
188/47 = (22 × 47)/47 = ((22 × 47) ÷ 47)/(47 ÷ 47) = 4/1 = 4