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: 66/6
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 66 = 2 × 3 × 11
- 6 = 2 × 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 (66; 6) = 2 × 3 = 6
66/6 = (66 ÷ 6)/(6 ÷ 6) = 11/1 = 11
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
66/6 = (2 × 3 × 11)/(2 × 3) = ((2 × 3 × 11) ÷ (2 × 3))/((2 × 3) ÷ (2 × 3)) = 11/1 = 11
The fraction: 68/15
68/15 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 68 = 22 × 17
- 15 = 3 × 5
- GCF (68; 15) = 1