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: 198/196
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 198 = 2 × 32 × 11
- 196 = 22 × 72
- 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 (198; 196) = 2
198/196 = (198 ÷ 2)/(196 ÷ 2) = 99/98
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
198/196 = (2 × 32 × 11)/(22 × 72) = ((2 × 32 × 11) ÷ 2)/((22 × 72) ÷ 2) = 99/98
The fraction: 200/200
200/200 = (200 ÷ 200)/(200 ÷ 200) = 1/1 = 1