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: 5/6
5/6 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 5 is a prime number.
- 6 = 2 × 3
- GCF (5; 6) = 1
The fraction: 10/12
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 10 = 2 × 5
- 12 = 22 × 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 (10; 12) = 2
10/12 = (10 ÷ 2)/(12 ÷ 2) = 5/6
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
10/12 = (2 × 5)/(22 × 3) = ((2 × 5) ÷ 2)/((22 × 3) ÷ 2) = 5/6
The fractions are equal.
This is one of the simplest cases when comparing two fractions.
Not only are the numerators of the fractions equal but their denominators are also equal.
::: The operation of comparing fractions :::
The final answer: