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: 56/48
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 56 = 23 × 7
- 48 = 24 × 3
- 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; 48) = 23 = 8
56/48 = (56 ÷ 8)/(48 ÷ 8) = 7/6
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
56/48 = (23 × 7)/(24 × 3) = ((23 × 7) ÷ 23)/((24 × 3) ÷ 23) = 7/6
The fraction: 58/58
58/58 = (58 ÷ 58)/(58 ÷ 58) = 1/1 = 1