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: 26/78
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 26 = 2 × 13
- 78 = 2 × 3 × 13
- 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 (26; 78) = 2 × 13 = 26
26/78 = (26 ÷ 26)/(78 ÷ 26) = 1/3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
26/78 = (2 × 13)/(2 × 3 × 13) = ((2 × 13) ÷ (2 × 13))/((2 × 3 × 13) ÷ (2 × 13)) = 1/3
The fraction: 28/82
- 28 = 22 × 7
- 82 = 2 × 41
- GCF (28; 82) = 2
28/82 = (28 ÷ 2)/(82 ÷ 2) = 14/41
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
28/82 = (22 × 7)/(2 × 41) = ((22 × 7) ÷ 2)/((2 × 41) ÷ 2) = 14/41