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: 36/9
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 36 = 22 × 32
- 9 = 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; 9) = 32 = 9
36/9 = (36 ÷ 9)/(9 ÷ 9) = 4/1 = 4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
36/9 = (22 × 32)/32 = ((22 × 32) ÷ 32)/(32 ÷ 32) = 4/1 = 4
The fraction: 41/11
41/11 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 41 is a prime number.
- 11 is a prime number.
- GCF (41; 11) = 1