simplifying fractions in Java

Question

My task is to develop a rational class. If 500 and 1000 are my inputs, then (½) must be my output. I have written a program on my own to find it.

Is there another best way to find the solution, or my program is already the best one?

public class Rational {

    public static void main(String[] args){

       int n1 = Integer.parseInt(args[0]);
       int n2 = Integer.parseInt(args[1]); 
       int temp1 = n1;
       int temp2 = n2; 

       while (n1 != n2){
         if(n1 > n2)
            n1 = n1 - n2;
         else
            n2 = n2 - n1;
       }      

      int n3 = temp1 / n1 ;
      int n4 = temp2 / n1 ;

      System.out.print("\n Output :\n");

      System.out.print(n3 + "/" + n4 + "\n\n" );
      System.exit(0);
    }  
}

Answer 1

Interesting question. Here's some executable code that does it with minimal code:

/** @return the greatest common denominator */
public static long gcd(long a, long b) {
    return b == 0 ? a : gcd(b, a % b);
}

public static String asFraction(long a, long b) {
    long gcd = gcd(a, b);
    return (a / gcd) + "/" + (b / gcd);
}

// Some tests
public static void main(String[] args) {
    System.out.println(asFraction(500, 1000)); //  "1/2"
    System.out.println(asFraction(17, 3));     //  "17/3"
    System.out.println(asFraction(462, 1071)); //  "22/51"
}

---

Bonus methods:

/** @return the lowest common multiple */
public static long lcm(long a, long b) {
    return a * b / gcd(a, b);
}

/** @return the greatest common denominator */
public static long gcd(List<? extends Number> numbers) {
    return numbers.stream().map(Number::longValue).reduce((a, b) -> gcd(a, b)).orElseThrow(NoSuchElementException::new);
}

/** @return the lowest common multiple */
public static long lcm(List<? extends Number> numbers) {
    return numbers.stream().map(Number::longValue).reduce((a, b) -> lcm(a, b)).orElseThrow(NoSuchElementException::new);
}