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: 7/21
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 7 is a prime number.
- 21 = 3 × 7
- 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 (7; 21) = 7
7/21 = (7 ÷ 7)/(21 ÷ 7) = 1/3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
7/21 = 7/(3 × 7) = (7 ÷ 7)/((3 × 7) ÷ 7) = 1/3
The fraction: 10/24
- 10 = 2 × 5
- 24 = 23 × 3
- GCF (10; 24) = 2
10/24 = (10 ÷ 2)/(24 ÷ 2) = 5/12
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
10/24 = (2 × 5)/(23 × 3) = ((2 × 5) ÷ 2)/((23 × 3) ÷ 2) = 5/12