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: 22/11
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 22 = 2 × 11
- 11 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 (22; 11) = 11
22/11 = (22 ÷ 11)/(11 ÷ 11) = 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:
22/11 = (2 × 11)/11 = ((2 × 11) ÷ 11)/(11 ÷ 11) = 2/1 = 2
The fraction: 30/15
- 30 = 2 × 3 × 5
- 15 = 3 × 5
- GCF (30; 15) = 3 × 5 = 15
30/15 = (30 ÷ 15)/(15 ÷ 15) = 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:
30/15 = (2 × 3 × 5)/(3 × 5) = ((2 × 3 × 5) ÷ (3 × 5))/((3 × 5) ÷ (3 × 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: