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: 64/128
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 64 = 26
- 128 = 27
- 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 (64; 128) = 26 = 64
64/128 = (64 ÷ 64)/(128 ÷ 64) = 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
64/128 = 26/27 = (26 ÷ 26)/(27 ÷ 26) = 1/2
The fraction: 70/130
- 70 = 2 × 5 × 7
- 130 = 2 × 5 × 13
- GCF (70; 130) = 2 × 5 = 10
70/130 = (70 ÷ 10)/(130 ÷ 10) = 7/13
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
70/130 = (2 × 5 × 7)/(2 × 5 × 13) = ((2 × 5 × 7) ÷ (2 × 5))/((2 × 5 × 13) ÷ (2 × 5)) = 7/13