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: 6/510
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 6 = 2 × 3
- 510 = 2 × 3 × 5 × 17
- 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 (6; 510) = 2 × 3 = 6
6/510 = (6 ÷ 6)/(510 ÷ 6) = 1/85
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
6/510 = (2 × 3)/(2 × 3 × 5 × 17) = ((2 × 3) ÷ (2 × 3))/((2 × 3 × 5 × 17) ÷ (2 × 3)) = 1/85
The fraction: 8/518
- 8 = 23
- 518 = 2 × 7 × 37
- GCF (8; 518) = 2
8/518 = (8 ÷ 2)/(518 ÷ 2) = 4/259
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
8/518 = 23/(2 × 7 × 37) = (23 ÷ 2)/((2 × 7 × 37) ÷ 2) = 4/259