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: 36/18
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 36 = 22 × 32
- 18 = 2 × 32
- 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 (36; 18) = 2 × 32 = 18
36/18 = (36 ÷ 18)/(18 ÷ 18) = 2/1 = 2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
36/18 = (22 × 32)/(2 × 32) = ((22 × 32) ÷ (2 × 32))/((2 × 32) ÷ (2 × 32)) = 2/1 = 2
The fraction: 41/27
41/27 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 41 is a prime number.
- 27 = 33
- GCF (41; 27) = 1