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: 132/132
132/132 = (132 ÷ 132)/(132 ÷ 132) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 141/138
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 141 = 3 × 47
- 138 = 2 × 3 × 23
- 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 (141; 138) = 3
141/138 = (141 ÷ 3)/(138 ÷ 3) = 47/46
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
141/138 = (3 × 47)/(2 × 3 × 23) = ((3 × 47) ÷ 3)/((2 × 3 × 23) ÷ 3) = 47/46