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: 102/99
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 102 = 2 × 3 × 17
- 99 = 32 × 11
- 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 (102; 99) = 3
102/99 = (102 ÷ 3)/(99 ÷ 3) = 34/33
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
102/99 = (2 × 3 × 17)/(32 × 11) = ((2 × 3 × 17) ÷ 3)/((32 × 11) ÷ 3) = 34/33
The fraction: 109/109
109/109 = (109 ÷ 109)/(109 ÷ 109) = 1/1 = 1