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: 41/7
41/7 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 41 is a prime number.
- 7 is a prime number.
- GCF (41; 7) = 1
The fraction: 44/11
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 44 = 22 × 11
- 11 is a prime number.
- 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; 11) = 11
44/11 = (44 ÷ 11)/(11 ÷ 11) = 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:
44/11 = (22 × 11)/11 = ((22 × 11) ÷ 11)/(11 ÷ 11) = 4/1 = 4