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: 189/9
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 189 = 33 × 7
- 9 = 32
- 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 (189; 9) = 32 = 9
189/9 = (189 ÷ 9)/(9 ÷ 9) = 21/1 = 21
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
189/9 = (33 × 7)/32 = ((33 × 7) ÷ 32)/(32 ÷ 32) = 21/1 = 21
The fraction: 195/16
195/16 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 195 = 3 × 5 × 13
- 16 = 24
- GCF (195; 16) = 1