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: 3/7
3/7 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 3 is a prime number.
- 7 is a prime number.
- GCF (3; 7) = 1
The fraction: 15/35
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 15 = 3 × 5
- 35 = 5 × 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 (15; 35) = 5
15/35 = (15 ÷ 5)/(35 ÷ 5) = 3/7
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
15/35 = (3 × 5)/(5 × 7) = ((3 × 5) ÷ 5)/((5 × 7) ÷ 5) = 3/7
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: