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: 56/168
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 56 = 23 × 7
- 168 = 23 × 3 × 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; 168) = 23 × 7 = 56
56/168 = (56 ÷ 56)/(168 ÷ 56) = 1/3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
56/168 = (23 × 7)/(23 × 3 × 7) = ((23 × 7) ÷ (23 × 7))/((23 × 3 × 7) ÷ (23 × 7)) = 1/3
The fraction: 64/178
- 64 = 26
- 178 = 2 × 89
- GCF (64; 178) = 2
64/178 = (64 ÷ 2)/(178 ÷ 2) = 32/89
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
64/178 = 26/(2 × 89) = (26 ÷ 2)/((2 × 89) ÷ 2) = 32/89