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: 56/112
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 56 = 23 × 7
- 112 = 24 × 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 (56; 112) = 23 × 7 = 56
56/112 = (56 ÷ 56)/(112 ÷ 56) = 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
56/112 = (23 × 7)/(24 × 7) = ((23 × 7) ÷ (23 × 7))/((24 × 7) ÷ (23 × 7)) = 1/2
The fraction: 66/115
66/115 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 66 = 2 × 3 × 11
- 115 = 5 × 23
- GCF (66; 115) = 1