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: 32/8
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 32 = 25
- 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 (32; 8) = 23 = 8
32/8 = (32 ÷ 8)/(8 ÷ 8) = 4/1 = 4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
32/8 = 25/23 = (25 ÷ 23)/(23 ÷ 23) = 4/1 = 4
The fraction: 37/18
37/18 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 37 is a prime number.
- 18 = 2 × 32
- GCF (37; 18) = 1