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: 204/202
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 204 = 22 × 3 × 17
- 202 = 2 × 101
- 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 (204; 202) = 2
204/202 = (204 ÷ 2)/(202 ÷ 2) = 102/101
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
204/202 = (22 × 3 × 17)/(2 × 101) = ((22 × 3 × 17) ÷ 2)/((2 × 101) ÷ 2) = 102/101
The fraction: 212/212
212/212 = (212 ÷ 212)/(212 ÷ 212) = 1/1 = 1