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: 4/508
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 4 = 22
- 508 = 22 × 127
- 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 (4; 508) = 22 = 4
4/508 = (4 ÷ 4)/(508 ÷ 4) = 1/127
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
4/508 = 22/(22 × 127) = (22 ÷ 22)/((22 × 127) ÷ 22) = 1/127
The fraction: 11/511
11/511 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 11 is a prime number.
- 511 = 7 × 73
- GCF (11; 511) = 1