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: 53/15
53/15 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 53 is a prime number.
- 15 = 3 × 5
- GCF (53; 15) = 1
The fraction: 57/19
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 57 = 3 × 19
- 19 is a prime number.
- 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 (57; 19) = 19
57/19 = (57 ÷ 19)/(19 ÷ 19) = 3/1 = 3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
57/19 = (3 × 19)/19 = ((3 × 19) ÷ 19)/(19 ÷ 19) = 3/1 = 3