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: 86/27
86/27 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 86 = 2 × 43
- 27 = 33
- GCF (86; 27) = 1
The fraction: 93/31
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 93 = 3 × 31
- 31 is a prime number.
- 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 (93; 31) = 31
93/31 = (93 ÷ 31)/(31 ÷ 31) = 3/1 = 3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
93/31 = (3 × 31)/31 = ((3 × 31) ÷ 31)/(31 ÷ 31) = 3/1 = 3