Simplify the operation
Reduce (simplify) the fractions to their lowest terms equivalents:
- To reduce a fraction to the lowest terms equivalent: divide both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor, GCF.
The fraction: 100/1,000
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 100 = 22 × 52
- 1,000 = 23 × 53
- Multiply all the common prime factors: if there are repeating prime factors we only take them once, and only the ones having the lowest exponent (the lowest powers).
- GCF (100; 1,000) = 22 × 52 = 100
100/1,000 = (100 ÷ 100)/(1,000 ÷ 100) = 1/10
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
100/1,000 = (22 × 52)/(23 × 53) = ((22 × 52) ÷ (22 × 52))/((23 × 53) ÷ (22 × 52)) = 1/10
The fraction: 109/1,006
109/1,006 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 109 is a prime number.
- 1,006 = 2 × 503
- GCF (109; 1,006) = 1