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: 7/69
7/69 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 7 is a prime number.
- 69 = 3 × 23
- GCF (7; 69) = 1
The fraction: 9/72
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 9 = 32
- 72 = 23 × 32
- 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 (9; 72) = 32 = 9
9/72 = (9 ÷ 9)/(72 ÷ 9) = 1/8
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
9/72 = 32/(23 × 32) = (32 ÷ 32)/((23 × 32) ÷ 32) = 1/8