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: 7/8
7/8 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 7 is a prime number.
- 8 = 23
- GCF (7; 8) = 1
The fraction: 14/16
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 14 = 2 × 7
- 16 = 24
- 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 (14; 16) = 2
14/16 = (14 ÷ 2)/(16 ÷ 2) = 7/8
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
14/16 = (2 × 7)/24 = ((2 × 7) ÷ 2)/(24 ÷ 2) = 7/8
The fractions are equal.
This is one of the simplest cases when comparing two fractions.
Not only are the numerators of the fractions equal but their denominators are also equal.
::: The operation of comparing fractions :::
The final answer: