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: 156/156
156/156 = (156 ÷ 156)/(156 ÷ 156) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 166/164
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 166 = 2 × 83
- 164 = 22 × 41
- 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 (166; 164) = 2
166/164 = (166 ÷ 2)/(164 ÷ 2) = 83/82
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
166/164 = (2 × 83)/(22 × 41) = ((2 × 83) ÷ 2)/((22 × 41) ÷ 2) = 83/82