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: 32/64
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 32 = 25
- 64 = 26
- 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; 64) = 25 = 32
32/64 = (32 ÷ 32)/(64 ÷ 32) = 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
32/64 = 25/26 = (25 ÷ 25)/(26 ÷ 25) = 1/2
The fraction: 37/71
37/71 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 37 is a prime number.
- 71 is a prime number.
- GCF (37; 71) = 1