Detailed calculations and explanations, below
A common ordinary fraction is made up of
two integer numbers and a fraction bar:
10,666,666,664/19,999,999,995
- The integer number above the bar is called numerator: 10,666,666,664
- The integer number below the bar is called denominator: 19,999,999,995
- 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 = 10,666,666,664 ÷ 19,999,999,995
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:
10,666,666,664 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 157 × 8,492,569 = 23 × 157 × 8,492,569
10,666,666,664 is a composite number.
19,999,999,995 = 3 × 5 × 157 × 8,492,569
19,999,999,995 is a composite number.
2. Multiply all the common prime factors:
- 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 (23 × 157 × 8,492,569; 3 × 5 × 157 × 8,492,569) = 157 × 8,492,569 = 1,333,333,333
Reduce (simplify) the common ordinary fraction: 10,666,666,664/19,999,999,995
Divide the numerator and the denominator by their GCF.
10,666,666,664/19,999,999,995 =
(10,666,666,664 ÷ 1,333,333,333) / (19,999,999,995 ÷ 1,333,333,333) =
8/15
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.
10,666,666,664/19,999,999,995 =
(23 × 157 × 8,492,569)/(3 × 5 × 157 × 8,492,569) =
((23 × 157 × 8,492,569) ÷ (157 × 8,492,569)) / ((3 × 5 × 157 × 8,492,569) ÷ (157 × 8,492,569)) =
23/(3 × 5) =
8/15