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: 731/182
731/182 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 731 = 17 × 43
- 182 = 2 × 7 × 13
- GCF (731; 182) = 1
The fraction: 740/185
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 740 = 22 × 5 × 37
- 185 = 5 × 37
- 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 (740; 185) = 5 × 37 = 185
740/185 = (740 ÷ 185)/(185 ÷ 185) = 4/1 = 4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
740/185 = (22 × 5 × 37)/(5 × 37) = ((22 × 5 × 37) ÷ (5 × 37))/((5 × 37) ÷ (5 × 37)) = 4/1 = 4