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: 51/102
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 51 = 3 × 17
- 102 = 2 × 3 × 17
- 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 (51; 102) = 3 × 17 = 51
51/102 = (51 ÷ 51)/(102 ÷ 51) = 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
51/102 = (3 × 17)/(2 × 3 × 17) = ((3 × 17) ÷ (3 × 17))/((2 × 3 × 17) ÷ (3 × 17)) = 1/2
The fraction: 61/106
61/106 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 61 is a prime number.
- 106 = 2 × 53
- GCF (61; 106) = 1