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: 63/16
63/16 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 63 = 32 × 7
- 16 = 24
- GCF (63; 16) = 1
The fraction: 72/24
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 72 = 23 × 32
- 24 = 23 × 3
- 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 (72; 24) = 23 × 3 = 24
72/24 = (72 ÷ 24)/(24 ÷ 24) = 3/1 = 3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
72/24 = (23 × 32)/(23 × 3) = ((23 × 32) ÷ (23 × 3))/((23 × 3) ÷ (23 × 3)) = 3/1 = 3