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: 34/32
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 34 = 2 × 17
- 32 = 25
- 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 (34; 32) = 2
34/32 = (34 ÷ 2)/(32 ÷ 2) = 17/16
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
34/32 = (2 × 17)/25 = ((2 × 17) ÷ 2)/(25 ÷ 2) = 17/16
The fraction: 41/41
41/41 = (41 ÷ 41)/(41 ÷ 41) = 1/1 = 1