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: 80/40
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 80 = 24 × 5
- 40 = 23 × 5
- 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 (80; 40) = 23 × 5 = 40
80/40 = (80 ÷ 40)/(40 ÷ 40) = 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:
80/40 = (24 × 5)/(23 × 5) = ((24 × 5) ÷ (23 × 5))/((23 × 5) ÷ (23 × 5)) = 2/1 = 2
The fraction: 87/46
87/46 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 87 = 3 × 29
- 46 = 2 × 23
- GCF (87; 46) = 1