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: 20/60
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 20 = 22 × 5
- 60 = 22 × 3 × 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; 60) = 22 × 5 = 20
20/60 = (20 ÷ 20)/(60 ÷ 20) = 1/3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
20/60 = (22 × 5)/(22 × 3 × 5) = ((22 × 5) ÷ (22 × 5))/((22 × 3 × 5) ÷ (22 × 5)) = 1/3
The fraction: 30/70
- 30 = 2 × 3 × 5
- 70 = 2 × 5 × 7
- GCF (30; 70) = 2 × 5 = 10
30/70 = (30 ÷ 10)/(70 ÷ 10) = 3/7
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
30/70 = (2 × 3 × 5)/(2 × 5 × 7) = ((2 × 3 × 5) ÷ (2 × 5))/((2 × 5 × 7) ÷ (2 × 5)) = 3/7