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: 35/69
35/69 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 35 = 5 × 7
- 69 = 3 × 23
- GCF (35; 69) = 1
The fraction: 38/76
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 38 = 2 × 19
- 76 = 22 × 19
- 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 (38; 76) = 2 × 19 = 38
38/76 = (38 ÷ 38)/(76 ÷ 38) = 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
38/76 = (2 × 19)/(22 × 19) = ((2 × 19) ÷ (2 × 19))/((22 × 19) ÷ (2 × 19)) = 1/2