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: 131/131
131/131 = (131 ÷ 131)/(131 ÷ 131) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 138/134
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 138 = 2 × 3 × 23
- 134 = 2 × 67
- 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 (138; 134) = 2
138/134 = (138 ÷ 2)/(134 ÷ 2) = 69/67
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
138/134 = (2 × 3 × 23)/(2 × 67) = ((2 × 3 × 23) ÷ 2)/((2 × 67) ÷ 2) = 69/67