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: 37/74
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 37 is a prime number.
- 74 = 2 × 37
- 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 (37; 74) = 37
37/74 = (37 ÷ 37)/(74 ÷ 37) = 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
37/74 = 37/(2 × 37) = (37 ÷ 37)/((2 × 37) ÷ 37) = 1/2
The fraction: 47/78
47/78 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 47 is a prime number.
- 78 = 2 × 3 × 13
- GCF (47; 78) = 1