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: 67/67
67/67 = (67 ÷ 67)/(67 ÷ 67) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 74/70
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 74 = 2 × 37
- 70 = 2 × 5 × 7
- 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 (74; 70) = 2
74/70 = (74 ÷ 2)/(70 ÷ 2) = 37/35
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
74/70 = (2 × 37)/(2 × 5 × 7) = ((2 × 37) ÷ 2)/((2 × 5 × 7) ÷ 2) = 37/35