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: 716/716
716/716 = (716 ÷ 716)/(716 ÷ 716) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 722/718
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 722 = 2 × 192
- 718 = 2 × 359
- 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 (722; 718) = 2
722/718 = (722 ÷ 2)/(718 ÷ 2) = 361/359
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
722/718 = (2 × 192)/(2 × 359) = ((2 × 192) ÷ 2)/((2 × 359) ÷ 2) = 361/359