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: 169/355
169/355 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 169 = 132
- 355 = 5 × 71
- GCF (169; 355) = 1
The fraction: 179/358
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 179 is a prime number.
- 358 = 2 × 179
- 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 (179; 358) = 179
179/358 = (179 ÷ 179)/(358 ÷ 179) = 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
179/358 = 179/(2 × 179) = (179 ÷ 179)/((2 × 179) ÷ 179) = 1/2