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: 75/72
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 75 = 3 × 52
- 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 (75; 72) = 3
75/72 = (75 ÷ 3)/(72 ÷ 3) = 25/24
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
75/72 = (3 × 52)/(23 × 32) = ((3 × 52) ÷ 3)/((23 × 32) ÷ 3) = 25/24
The fraction: 79/79
79/79 = (79 ÷ 79)/(79 ÷ 79) = 1/1 = 1