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: 114/114
114/114 = (114 ÷ 114)/(114 ÷ 114) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 120/118
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 120 = 23 × 3 × 5
- 118 = 2 × 59
- 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 (120; 118) = 2
120/118 = (120 ÷ 2)/(118 ÷ 2) = 60/59
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
120/118 = (23 × 3 × 5)/(2 × 59) = ((23 × 3 × 5) ÷ 2)/((2 × 59) ÷ 2) = 60/59