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: 64/32
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 64 = 26
- 32 = 25
- 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; 32) = 25 = 32
64/32 = (64 ÷ 32)/(32 ÷ 32) = 2/1 = 2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
64/32 = 26/25 = (26 ÷ 25)/(25 ÷ 25) = 2/1 = 2
The fraction: 66/35
66/35 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 66 = 2 × 3 × 11
- 35 = 5 × 7
- GCF (66; 35) = 1