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: 9/54
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 9 = 32
- 54 = 2 × 33
- 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 (9; 54) = 32 = 9
9/54 = (9 ÷ 9)/(54 ÷ 9) = 1/6
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
9/54 = 32/(2 × 33) = (32 ÷ 32)/((2 × 33) ÷ 32) = 1/6
The fraction: 14/60
- 14 = 2 × 7
- 60 = 22 × 3 × 5
- GCF (14; 60) = 2
14/60 = (14 ÷ 2)/(60 ÷ 2) = 7/30
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
14/60 = (2 × 7)/(22 × 3 × 5) = ((2 × 7) ÷ 2)/((22 × 3 × 5) ÷ 2) = 7/30