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: 47/100
47/100 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 47 is a prime number.
- 100 = 22 × 52
- GCF (47; 100) = 1
The fraction: 5/10
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 5 is a prime number.
- 10 = 2 × 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 (5; 10) = 5
5/10 = (5 ÷ 5)/(10 ÷ 5) = 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
5/10 = 5/(2 × 5) = (5 ÷ 5)/((2 × 5) ÷ 5) = 1/2