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: 48/96
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 48 = 24 × 3
- 96 = 25 × 3
- 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 (48; 96) = 24 × 3 = 48
48/96 = (48 ÷ 48)/(96 ÷ 48) = 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
48/96 = (24 × 3)/(25 × 3) = ((24 × 3) ÷ (24 × 3))/((25 × 3) ÷ (24 × 3)) = 1/2
The fraction: 52/103
52/103 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 52 = 22 × 13
- 103 is a prime number.
- GCF (52; 103) = 1