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: 60/57
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 60 = 22 × 3 × 5
- 57 = 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 (60; 57) = 3
60/57 = (60 ÷ 3)/(57 ÷ 3) = 20/19
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
60/57 = (22 × 3 × 5)/(3 × 19) = ((22 × 3 × 5) ÷ 3)/((3 × 19) ÷ 3) = 20/19
The fraction: 64/64
64/64 = (64 ÷ 64)/(64 ÷ 64) = 1/1 = 1