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How to Calculate Lowest Terms of Fractions

Fractions are mathematical figures that consist of a top number (numerator) and a bottom number (denominator). The denominator represents a whole unit, and the numerator represents a portion of that whole. When working with fractions mathematically, you usually must simplify your fractional answers. This is also called the reducing the fraction to its "lowest" terms. A fraction is in its lowest terms if the numerator and denominator cannot be further divided by any common factor.

Instructions

    • 1

      Break the numerator and denominator into prime numbers. Prime numbers are values that can only be divided evenly by themselves and the number 1. For example, if you have 70/90, break 70 into 7 * 5 * 2 and 90 into 3 * 3 * 5 * 2.

    • 2

      Strike out any common prime factors. In this example, you would strike out 5 and 2 from both the numerator and denominator.

    • 3

      Multiply the remaining factors in the numerator and denominator. In this example, you would only have 7 in the numerator, and you would have 3 time 3 in the denominator, which equals 9. Therefore, the fraction 7/9 would be the lowest terms for the original fraction 70/90.

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