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: 54/9
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 54 = 2 × 33
- 9 = 32
- 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 (54; 9) = 32 = 9
54/9 = (54 ÷ 9)/(9 ÷ 9) = 6/1 = 6
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
54/9 = (2 × 33)/32 = ((2 × 33) ÷ 32)/(32 ÷ 32) = 6/1 = 6
The fraction: 56/17
56/17 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 56 = 23 × 7
- 17 is a prime number.
- GCF (56; 17) = 1