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:
123,760 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 5 × 7 × 13 × 17 = 24 × 5 × 7 × 13 × 17
123,760 is a composite number.
Written with exponents:
272 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 17 = 24 × 17
272 is a composite number.
123,760/272 =
(123,760 ÷ 272) / (272 ÷ 272) =
455/1 =
455
* 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.
123,760/272 =
(24 × 5 × 7 × 13 × 17)/(24 × 17) =
((24 × 5 × 7 × 13 × 17) ÷ (24 × 17)) / ((24 × 17) ÷ (24 × 17)) =
(5 × 7 × 13)/1 =
(5 × 7 × 13) =
455
* When it's 1, the denominator of the fraction can be omitted.