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: 30/60
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 30 = 2 × 3 × 5
- 60 = 22 × 3 × 5
- 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 (30; 60) = 2 × 3 × 5 = 30
30/60 = (30 ÷ 30)/(60 ÷ 30) = 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
30/60 = (2 × 3 × 5)/(22 × 3 × 5) = ((2 × 3 × 5) ÷ (2 × 3 × 5))/((22 × 3 × 5) ÷ (2 × 3 × 5)) = 1/2
The fraction: 36/67
36/67 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 36 = 22 × 32
- 67 is a prime number.
- GCF (36; 67) = 1