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: 252/63
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 252 = 22 × 32 × 7
- 63 = 32 × 7
- 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 (252; 63) = 32 × 7 = 63
252/63 = (252 ÷ 63)/(63 ÷ 63) = 4/1 = 4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
252/63 = (22 × 32 × 7)/(32 × 7) = ((22 × 32 × 7) ÷ (32 × 7))/((32 × 7) ÷ (32 × 7)) = 4/1 = 4
The fraction: 259/71
259/71 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 259 = 7 × 37
- 71 is a prime number.
- GCF (259; 71) = 1