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: 360/360
360/360 = (360 ÷ 360)/(360 ÷ 360) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 369/366
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 369 = 32 × 41
- 366 = 2 × 3 × 61
- 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 (369; 366) = 3
369/366 = (369 ÷ 3)/(366 ÷ 3) = 123/122
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
369/366 = (32 × 41)/(2 × 3 × 61) = ((32 × 41) ÷ 3)/((2 × 3 × 61) ÷ 3) = 123/122