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: 106/102
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 106 = 2 × 53
- 102 = 2 × 3 × 17
- 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; 102) = 2
106/102 = (106 ÷ 2)/(102 ÷ 2) = 53/51
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
106/102 = (2 × 53)/(2 × 3 × 17) = ((2 × 53) ÷ 2)/((2 × 3 × 17) ÷ 2) = 53/51
The fraction: 111/111
111/111 = (111 ÷ 111)/(111 ÷ 111) = 1/1 = 1