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: 19/19
19/19 = (19 ÷ 19)/(19 ÷ 19) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 28/24
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 28 = 22 × 7
- 24 = 23 × 3
- 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 (28; 24) = 22 = 4
28/24 = (28 ÷ 4)/(24 ÷ 4) = 7/6
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
28/24 = (22 × 7)/(23 × 3) = ((22 × 7) ÷ 22)/((23 × 3) ÷ 22) = 7/6