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: 32/96
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 32 = 25
- 96 = 25 × 3
- 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; 96) = 25 = 32
32/96 = (32 ÷ 32)/(96 ÷ 32) = 1/3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
32/96 = 25/(25 × 3) = (25 ÷ 25)/((25 × 3) ÷ 25) = 1/3
The fraction: 35/99
35/99 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 35 = 5 × 7
- 99 = 32 × 11
- GCF (35; 99) = 1