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: 57/114
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 57 = 3 × 19
- 114 = 2 × 3 × 19
- 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 (57; 114) = 3 × 19 = 57
57/114 = (57 ÷ 57)/(114 ÷ 57) = 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
57/114 = (3 × 19)/(2 × 3 × 19) = ((3 × 19) ÷ (3 × 19))/((2 × 3 × 19) ÷ (3 × 19)) = 1/2
The fraction: 61/119
61/119 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 61 is a prime number.
- 119 = 7 × 17
- GCF (61; 119) = 1