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: 12/12
12/12 = (12 ÷ 12)/(12 ÷ 12) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 18/14
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 18 = 2 × 32
- 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 (18; 14) = 2
18/14 = (18 ÷ 2)/(14 ÷ 2) = 9/7
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
18/14 = (2 × 32)/(2 × 7) = ((2 × 32) ÷ 2)/((2 × 7) ÷ 2) = 9/7