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: 600/600
600/600 = (600 ÷ 600)/(600 ÷ 600) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 608/606
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 608 = 25 × 19
- 606 = 2 × 3 × 101
- 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 (608; 606) = 2
608/606 = (608 ÷ 2)/(606 ÷ 2) = 304/303
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
608/606 = (25 × 19)/(2 × 3 × 101) = ((25 × 19) ÷ 2)/((2 × 3 × 101) ÷ 2) = 304/303