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: 5/15
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 5 is a prime number.
- 15 = 3 × 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; 15) = 5
5/15 = (5 ÷ 5)/(15 ÷ 5) = 1/3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
5/15 = 5/(3 × 5) = (5 ÷ 5)/((3 × 5) ÷ 5) = 1/3
The fraction: 8/23
8/23 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 8 = 23
- 23 is a prime number.
- GCF (8; 23) = 1