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: 34/136
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 34 = 2 × 17
- 136 = 23 × 17
- 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 (34; 136) = 2 × 17 = 34
34/136 = (34 ÷ 34)/(136 ÷ 34) = 1/4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
34/136 = (2 × 17)/(23 × 17) = ((2 × 17) ÷ (2 × 17))/((23 × 17) ÷ (2 × 17)) = 1/4
The fraction: 43/139
43/139 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 43 is a prime number.
- 139 is a prime number.
- GCF (43; 139) = 1