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: 261/261
261/261 = (261 ÷ 261)/(261 ÷ 261) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 266/264
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 266 = 2 × 7 × 19
- 264 = 23 × 3 × 11
- 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 (266; 264) = 2
266/264 = (266 ÷ 2)/(264 ÷ 2) = 133/132
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
266/264 = (2 × 7 × 19)/(23 × 3 × 11) = ((2 × 7 × 19) ÷ 2)/((23 × 3 × 11) ÷ 2) = 133/132