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: 240/48
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 240 = 24 × 3 × 5
- 48 = 24 × 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 (240; 48) = 24 × 3 = 48
240/48 = (240 ÷ 48)/(48 ÷ 48) = 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:
240/48 = (24 × 3 × 5)/(24 × 3) = ((24 × 3 × 5) ÷ (24 × 3))/((24 × 3) ÷ (24 × 3)) = 5/1 = 5
The fraction: 245/51
245/51 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 245 = 5 × 72
- 51 = 3 × 17
- GCF (245; 51) = 1