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: 20/160
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 20 = 22 × 5
- 160 = 25 × 5
- 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 (20; 160) = 22 × 5 = 20
20/160 = (20 ÷ 20)/(160 ÷ 20) = 1/8
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
20/160 = (22 × 5)/(25 × 5) = ((22 × 5) ÷ (22 × 5))/((25 × 5) ÷ (22 × 5)) = 1/8
The fraction: 25/168
25/168 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 25 = 52
- 168 = 23 × 3 × 7
- GCF (25; 168) = 1