Detailed calculations and explanations, below
A common ordinary fraction is made up of
two integer numbers and a fraction bar:
- 4,185/ - 27
Write the signs of the numbers in front of the fraction:
- 4,185/ - 27 = - ( - (4,185/27)) = 4,185/27
- The integer number above the bar is called numerator: 4,185
- The integer number below the bar is called denominator: 27
- The fraction bar means that the numerator is divided by the denominator.
- To get the fraction's value divide the numerator by the denominator:
The value = 4,185 ÷ 27
To reduce a fraction to the lowest terms equivalent: divide the numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor, GCF
To calculate the greatest common factor, GCF:
- 1. Factor the numerator and the denominator (into prime factors), build their prime factorizations.
- 2. Multiply all their common prime factors, taken by the lowest exponents.
1. Factor the numerator and the denominator:
To factor a number (into prime factors) - or, in other words, to break it down to prime factors - or, in other words, to build its prime factorization: find the prime numbers that multiply together to get that number.
The prime factorizations:
Written with exponents:
4,185 = 3 × 3 × 3 × 5 × 31 = 33 × 5 × 31
4,185 is a composite number.
Written with exponents:
27 = 3 × 3 × 3 = 33
27 is a composite number.
4,185/27 =
(4,185 ÷ 27) / (27 ÷ 27) =
155/1 =
155
* When it's 1, the denominator of the fraction can be omitted.
Yet another method to reduce the fraction
To reduce a fraction without calculating the GCF: factor its numerator and denominator, then all the common prime factors are easily identified and crossed out.
4,185/27 =
(33 × 5 × 31)/33 =
((33 × 5 × 31) ÷ 33) / (33 ÷ 33) =
(5 × 31)/1 =
(5 × 31) =
155
* When it's 1, the denominator of the fraction can be omitted.