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: 48/46
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 48 = 24 × 3
- 46 = 2 × 23
- 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 (48; 46) = 2
48/46 = (48 ÷ 2)/(46 ÷ 2) = 24/23
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
48/46 = (24 × 3)/(2 × 23) = ((24 × 3) ÷ 2)/((2 × 23) ÷ 2) = 24/23
The fraction: 54/54
54/54 = (54 ÷ 54)/(54 ÷ 54) = 1/1 = 1