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: 612/36
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 612 = 22 × 32 × 17
- 36 = 22 × 32
- 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 (612; 36) = 22 × 32 = 36
612/36 = (612 ÷ 36)/(36 ÷ 36) = 17/1 = 17
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
612/36 = (22 × 32 × 17)/(22 × 32) = ((22 × 32 × 17) ÷ (22 × 32))/((22 × 32) ÷ (22 × 32)) = 17/1 = 17
The fraction: 617/39
617/39 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 617 is a prime number.
- 39 = 3 × 13
- GCF (617; 39) = 1