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: 85/340
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 85 = 5 × 17
- 340 = 22 × 5 × 17
- 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 (85; 340) = 5 × 17 = 85
85/340 = (85 ÷ 85)/(340 ÷ 85) = 1/4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
85/340 = (5 × 17)/(22 × 5 × 17) = ((5 × 17) ÷ (5 × 17))/((22 × 5 × 17) ÷ (5 × 17)) = 1/4
The fraction: 87/349
87/349 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 87 = 3 × 29
- 349 is a prime number.
- GCF (87; 349) = 1