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: 87/20
87/20 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 87 = 3 × 29
- 20 = 22 × 5
- GCF (87; 20) = 1
The fraction: 92/23
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 92 = 22 × 23
- 23 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 (92; 23) = 23
92/23 = (92 ÷ 23)/(23 ÷ 23) = 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:
92/23 = (22 × 23)/23 = ((22 × 23) ÷ 23)/(23 ÷ 23) = 4/1 = 4