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: 20/3
20/3 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 20 = 22 × 5
- 3 is a prime number.
- GCF (20; 3) = 1
The fraction: 30/6
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 30 = 2 × 3 × 5
- 6 = 2 × 3
- 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 (30; 6) = 2 × 3 = 6
30/6 = (30 ÷ 6)/(6 ÷ 6) = 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:
30/6 = (2 × 3 × 5)/(2 × 3) = ((2 × 3 × 5) ÷ (2 × 3))/((2 × 3) ÷ (2 × 3)) = 5/1 = 5