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: 10/5
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 10 = 2 × 5
- 5 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 (10; 5) = 5
10/5 = (10 ÷ 5)/(5 ÷ 5) = 2/1 = 2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
10/5 = (2 × 5)/5 = ((2 × 5) ÷ 5)/(5 ÷ 5) = 2/1 = 2
The numbers are equal.
This is a simple case of comparing and sorting integer numbers.
The integer numbers are a particular case of those fractions that have a denominator equal to 1.
::: The operation of comparing fractions :::
The final answer: