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: 37/160
37/160 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 37 is a prime number.
- 160 = 25 × 5
- GCF (37; 160) = 1
The fraction: 41/164
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 41 is a prime number.
- 164 = 22 × 41
- 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 (41; 164) = 41
41/164 = (41 ÷ 41)/(164 ÷ 41) = 1/4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
41/164 = 41/(22 × 41) = (41 ÷ 41)/((22 × 41) ÷ 41) = 1/4