Detailed calculations and explanations, below
A common ordinary fraction is made up of
two integer numbers and a fraction bar:
5,763/ - 51
Write the sign of the number in front of the fraction:
5,763/ - 51 = - 5,763/51
- The integer number above the bar is called numerator: 5,763
- The integer number below the bar is called denominator: 51
- The sign of the fraction: - (a negative value).
- 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 = - 5,763 ÷ 51
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:
5,763 = 3 × 17 × 113
5,763 is a composite number.
51 = 3 × 17
51 is a composite number.
- 5,763/51 =
- (5,763 ÷ 51) / (51 ÷ 51) =
- 113/1 =
113
* 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.
- 5,763/51 =
- (3 × 17 × 113)/(3 × 17) =
- ((3 × 17 × 113) ÷ (3 × 17)) / ((3 × 17) ÷ (3 × 17)) =
- 113/1 =
- 113
* When it's 1, the denominator of the fraction can be omitted.