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: 96/6
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 96 = 25 × 3
- 6 = 2 × 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; 6) = 2 × 3 = 6
96/6 = (96 ÷ 6)/(6 ÷ 6) = 16/1 = 16
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
96/6 = (25 × 3)/(2 × 3) = ((25 × 3) ÷ (2 × 3))/((2 × 3) ÷ (2 × 3)) = 16/1 = 16
The fraction: 101/10
101/10 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 101 is a prime number.
- 10 = 2 × 5
- GCF (101; 10) = 1