Question

How can you simplify the following fraction using prime factorization?: `736/501`

Answer 1

`736/501=1 235/501`

Explanation:

The fact is that the numerator `736` and denominator `501` both are coprime or relatively prime to each other. This means there is no number other than `1`, that can divide the two. Hence simplifying by dividing both by some prime number, is just not possible.

However, it is improper fraction as `736>501` and hence only way one can simplify it is to convert this into a mixed fraction.

As such `736/501=(501+235)/501=501/501+235/501=1 235/501`

Answer 2

`736=2xx2xx2xx2xx23`
`=2^4*23`

`501=3xx167`

The numerator and denominator have no common factors, so the fraction can't be simplified.