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: 103/208
103/208 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 103 is a prime number.
- 208 = 24 × 13
- GCF (103; 208) = 1
The fraction: 105/210
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 105 = 3 × 5 × 7
- 210 = 2 × 3 × 5 × 7
- 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 (105; 210) = 3 × 5 × 7 = 105
105/210 = (105 ÷ 105)/(210 ÷ 105) = 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
105/210 = (3 × 5 × 7)/(2 × 3 × 5 × 7) = ((3 × 5 × 7) ÷ (3 × 5 × 7))/((2 × 3 × 5 × 7) ÷ (3 × 5 × 7)) = 1/2