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: 29/84
29/84 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 29 is a prime number.
- 84 = 22 × 3 × 7
- GCF (29; 84) = 1
The fraction: 31/93
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 31 is a prime number.
- 93 = 3 × 31
- 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 (31; 93) = 31
31/93 = (31 ÷ 31)/(93 ÷ 31) = 1/3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
31/93 = 31/(3 × 31) = (31 ÷ 31)/((3 × 31) ÷ 31) = 1/3