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: 715/143
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 715 = 5 × 11 × 13
- 143 = 11 × 13
- 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 (715; 143) = 11 × 13 = 143
715/143 = (715 ÷ 143)/(143 ÷ 143) = 5/1 = 5
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
715/143 = (5 × 11 × 13)/(11 × 13) = ((5 × 11 × 13) ÷ (11 × 13))/((11 × 13) ÷ (11 × 13)) = 5/1 = 5
The fraction: 721/151
721/151 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 721 = 7 × 103
- 151 is a prime number.
- GCF (721; 151) = 1