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: 74/72
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 74 = 2 × 37
- 72 = 23 × 32
- 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; 72) = 2
74/72 = (74 ÷ 2)/(72 ÷ 2) = 37/36
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
74/72 = (2 × 37)/(23 × 32) = ((2 × 37) ÷ 2)/((23 × 32) ÷ 2) = 37/36
The fraction: 77/77
77/77 = (77 ÷ 77)/(77 ÷ 77) = 1/1 = 1