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: 5/8
5/8 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 5 is a prime number.
- 8 = 23
- GCF (5; 8) = 1
The fraction: 7/14
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 7 is a prime number.
- 14 = 2 × 7
- 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 (7; 14) = 7
7/14 = (7 ÷ 7)/(14 ÷ 7) = 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
7/14 = 7/(2 × 7) = (7 ÷ 7)/((2 × 7) ÷ 7) = 1/2