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: 34/68
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 34 = 2 × 17
- 68 = 22 × 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; 68) = 2 × 17 = 34
34/68 = (34 ÷ 34)/(68 ÷ 34) = 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
34/68 = (2 × 17)/(22 × 17) = ((2 × 17) ÷ (2 × 17))/((22 × 17) ÷ (2 × 17)) = 1/2
The fraction: 44/70
- 44 = 22 × 11
- 70 = 2 × 5 × 7
- GCF (44; 70) = 2
44/70 = (44 ÷ 2)/(70 ÷ 2) = 22/35
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
44/70 = (22 × 11)/(2 × 5 × 7) = ((22 × 11) ÷ 2)/((2 × 5 × 7) ÷ 2) = 22/35