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: 39/85
39/85 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 39 = 3 × 13
- 85 = 5 × 17
- GCF (39; 85) = 1
The fraction: 44/88
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 44 = 22 × 11
- 88 = 23 × 11
- 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 (44; 88) = 22 × 11 = 44
44/88 = (44 ÷ 44)/(88 ÷ 44) = 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
44/88 = (22 × 11)/(23 × 11) = ((22 × 11) ÷ (22 × 11))/((23 × 11) ÷ (22 × 11)) = 1/2