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: 55/11
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 55 = 5 × 11
- 11 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 (55; 11) = 11
55/11 = (55 ÷ 11)/(11 ÷ 11) = 5/1 = 5
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
55/11 = (5 × 11)/11 = ((5 × 11) ÷ 11)/(11 ÷ 11) = 5/1 = 5
The fraction: 59/15
59/15 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 59 is a prime number.
- 15 = 3 × 5
- GCF (59; 15) = 1