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: 7/49
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 7 is a prime number.
- 49 = 72
- 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; 49) = 7
7/49 = (7 ÷ 7)/(49 ÷ 7) = 1/7
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
7/49 = 7/72 = (7 ÷ 7)/(72 ÷ 7) = 1/7
The fraction: 15/53
15/53 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 15 = 3 × 5
- 53 is a prime number.
- GCF (15; 53) = 1