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: 3/4
3/4 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 3 is a prime number.
- 4 = 22
- GCF (3; 4) = 1
The fraction: 6/8
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 6 = 2 × 3
- 8 = 23
- 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 (6; 8) = 2
6/8 = (6 ÷ 2)/(8 ÷ 2) = 3/4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
6/8 = (2 × 3)/23 = ((2 × 3) ÷ 2)/(23 ÷ 2) = 3/4
The fractions are equal.
This is one of the simplest cases when comparing two fractions.
Not only are the numerators of the fractions equal but their denominators are also equal.
::: The operation of comparing fractions :::
The final answer: