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: 36/253
36/253 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 36 = 22 × 32
- 253 = 11 × 23
- GCF (36; 253) = 1
The fraction: 43/258
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 43 is a prime number.
- 258 = 2 × 3 × 43
- 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 (43; 258) = 43
43/258 = (43 ÷ 43)/(258 ÷ 43) = 1/6
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
43/258 = 43/(2 × 3 × 43) = (43 ÷ 43)/((2 × 3 × 43) ÷ 43) = 1/6