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: 43/128
43/128 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 43 is a prime number.
- 128 = 27
- GCF (43; 128) = 1
The fraction: 45/135
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 45 = 32 × 5
- 135 = 33 × 5
- 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 (45; 135) = 32 × 5 = 45
45/135 = (45 ÷ 45)/(135 ÷ 45) = 1/3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
45/135 = (32 × 5)/(33 × 5) = ((32 × 5) ÷ (32 × 5))/((33 × 5) ÷ (32 × 5)) = 1/3