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: 54/54
54/54 = (54 ÷ 54)/(54 ÷ 54) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 62/56
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 62 = 2 × 31
- 56 = 23 × 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 (62; 56) = 2
62/56 = (62 ÷ 2)/(56 ÷ 2) = 31/28
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
62/56 = (2 × 31)/(23 × 7) = ((2 × 31) ÷ 2)/((23 × 7) ÷ 2) = 31/28