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: 11/11
11/11 = (11 ÷ 11)/(11 ÷ 11) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 21/14
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 21 = 3 × 7
- 14 = 2 × 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 (21; 14) = 7
21/14 = (21 ÷ 7)/(14 ÷ 7) = 3/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
21/14 = (3 × 7)/(2 × 7) = ((3 × 7) ÷ 7)/((2 × 7) ÷ 7) = 3/2