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: 579/32
579/32 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 579 = 3 × 193
- 32 = 25
- GCF (579; 32) = 1
The fraction: 585/39
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 585 = 32 × 5 × 13
- 39 = 3 × 13
- 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 (585; 39) = 3 × 13 = 39
585/39 = (585 ÷ 39)/(39 ÷ 39) = 15/1 = 15
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
585/39 = (32 × 5 × 13)/(3 × 13) = ((32 × 5 × 13) ÷ (3 × 13))/((3 × 13) ÷ (3 × 13)) = 15/1 = 15