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: 32/16
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 32 = 25
- 16 = 24
- 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 (32; 16) = 24 = 16
32/16 = (32 ÷ 16)/(16 ÷ 16) = 2/1 = 2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
32/16 = 25/24 = (25 ÷ 24)/(24 ÷ 24) = 2/1 = 2
The fraction: 41/19
41/19 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 41 is a prime number.
- 19 is a prime number.
- GCF (41; 19) = 1