answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Suppose you have a fraction in the form a/b and suppose c is a common factor of a and b.

c is a factor of a so that a = c*x

c is a factor of b so that b = c*y

where x and y are integers.

And so a/b = cx/cy = x/y.

The process is as follows:

  1. find a common factor, c, of the numerator (a) and the denominator (b).
  2. the new numerator is the old numerator divided by the common factor that is, x = a/c;
  3. the new denominator is the old denominator divided by the common factor that is, y = b/c;
  4. the new fraction is x/y.
User Avatar

Wiki User

8y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How do you do the divide out common factors?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Algebra

What is the fraction 16 20 in lowest terms?

Look for common factors in the two numbers. Divide both numbers by the common factors. Continue until there are no more common factors.


What is the greatest common factor of 51 and 93?

The GCF of 51 and 93 is 3.Definition: A factor is a divisor - a number that will evenly divide into another number. The greatest common factor of two or more numbers is the largest factor that the numbers have in common.Method:One way to determine the common factors and greatest common factor is to find all the factors of the numbers and compare them.The factors of 51 are 1, 3, 17, and 51.The factors of 93 are 1, 3, 31, and 93.The common factors are 1 and 3. Therefore, the greatest common factor is 3. The factors of 51 are 1, 3, 17, and 51.The factors of 93 are 1, 3, 31, and 93.The common factors are 1 and 3. Therefore, the greatest common factor is 3.


Which of the the following are the faction x3 plus 3x2?

If you mean "factors", the two monomials have the common factor x2. Divide each factor by x2 to get the other factor.


What is the greatest common factor of 36 and 90?

The greatest common factor of 36 and 90 is 18.The common factors of 36 and 90 are 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 18.Definition: A factor is a divisor - a number that will evenly divide into another number. The common factors of two or more numbers are all the factors that the numbers have in common. The greatest common factor of two or more numbers is the largest factor that the numbers have in common.Methods:One way to determine the common factors and greatest common factor is to find all the factors of the numbers and compare them.The factors of 36 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 36.The factors of 90 are 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 15, 18, 30, 45, and 90.The common factors are 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 18. Therefore, the greatest common factor is 18.The greatest common factor can also be calculated by identifying the common prime factors and multiplying them together.The prime factors of 36 are 2, 2, 3, and 3.The prime factors of 90 are 2, 3, 3, and 5.The prime factors in common are 2, 3, and 3, so the greatest common factor is 2 x 3 x 3 = 18.


Compare and Contrast Greatest common factor and Least common multiple?

The greatest common factor, or GCF, is the largest positive integer that will divide evenly with no remainder into all the members of a given set of numbers. The least common multiple, or LCM, is the smallest positive integer that all the members of a given set of numbers will divide into evenly with no remainder. Factors go into numbers, numbers go into multiples.

Related questions

How do you change a fraction into simplest form?

You check whether numerator and denominator (top and bottom) of the fraction have common factors. Then you divide both by the common factors. Continue, until there are no more common factors.


How do you convert and reduce 20-6 in a fraction?

26


What is the fraction 16 20 in lowest terms?

Look for common factors in the two numbers. Divide both numbers by the common factors. Continue until there are no more common factors.


What do the common factors of 18 and 30 represent?

The common factors are those which divide into both numbers with no remainder. They are 1, 2, 3 and 6.


Is a common factor the product of two factors that are the same?

No, the product of two factors that are the same is a perfect square. Common factors are numbers that divide evenly into a given set of numbers.


How do you simplify -984 over 75?

You look for common factors, then divide both numbers by the common factor.


When multiplying factions you can divide common factors so that the product will be in?

simplest form


When multiplying fractions you can divide out common factors so that the product will be in what?

simplest form


How do you solve fractions in the lowerst terms?

Divide top and bottom by whatever common factors they have.


What are the common factors of 72 and 84?

The common factors are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12. 12 is the greatest common factor of 72 and 84. All the factors of 12 will therefore divide by both 72 and 84.


What are the common factors of 19 and 57?

Both 1 and 19 can divide into both 19 and 57.


When multiplying fractions the shortcut process of finding common factors that divide evenly into at least one of the numerator and one of the denominator is called?

It is called simplification [by cancelling common factors].