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: 100/98
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 100 = 22 × 52
- 98 = 2 × 72
- 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; 98) = 2
100/98 = (100 ÷ 2)/(98 ÷ 2) = 50/49
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
100/98 = (22 × 52)/(2 × 72) = ((22 × 52) ÷ 2)/((2 × 72) ÷ 2) = 50/49
The fraction: 106/106
106/106 = (106 ÷ 106)/(106 ÷ 106) = 1/1 = 1