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: 76/33
76/33 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 76 = 22 × 19
- 33 = 3 × 11
- GCF (76; 33) = 1
The fraction: 84/42
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 84 = 22 × 3 × 7
- 42 = 2 × 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 (84; 42) = 2 × 3 × 7 = 42
84/42 = (84 ÷ 42)/(42 ÷ 42) = 2/1 = 2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
84/42 = (22 × 3 × 7)/(2 × 3 × 7) = ((22 × 3 × 7) ÷ (2 × 3 × 7))/((2 × 3 × 7) ÷ (2 × 3 × 7)) = 2/1 = 2