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: 236/109
236/109 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 236 = 22 × 59
- 109 is a prime number.
- GCF (236; 109) = 1
The fraction: 238/119
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 238 = 2 × 7 × 17
- 119 = 7 × 17
- 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 (238; 119) = 7 × 17 = 119
238/119 = (238 ÷ 119)/(119 ÷ 119) = 2/1 = 2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
238/119 = (2 × 7 × 17)/(7 × 17) = ((2 × 7 × 17) ÷ (7 × 17))/((7 × 17) ÷ (7 × 17)) = 2/1 = 2