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: 62/62
62/62 = (62 ÷ 62)/(62 ÷ 62) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 72/66
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 72 = 23 × 32
- 66 = 2 × 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 (72; 66) = 2 × 3 = 6
72/66 = (72 ÷ 6)/(66 ÷ 6) = 12/11
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
72/66 = (23 × 32)/(2 × 3 × 11) = ((23 × 32) ÷ (2 × 3))/((2 × 3 × 11) ÷ (2 × 3)) = 12/11