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: 86/15
86/15 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 86 = 2 × 43
- 15 = 3 × 5
- GCF (86; 15) = 1
The fraction: 96/24
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 96 = 25 × 3
- 24 = 23 × 3
- 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 (96; 24) = 23 × 3 = 24
96/24 = (96 ÷ 24)/(24 ÷ 24) = 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:
96/24 = (25 × 3)/(23 × 3) = ((25 × 3) ÷ (23 × 3))/((23 × 3) ÷ (23 × 3)) = 4/1 = 4