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: 102/102
102/102 = (102 ÷ 102)/(102 ÷ 102) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 106/104
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 106 = 2 × 53
- 104 = 23 × 13
- 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 (106; 104) = 2
106/104 = (106 ÷ 2)/(104 ÷ 2) = 53/52
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
106/104 = (2 × 53)/(23 × 13) = ((2 × 53) ÷ 2)/((23 × 13) ÷ 2) = 53/52