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: 76/155
76/155 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 76 = 22 × 19
- 155 = 5 × 31
- GCF (76; 155) = 1
The fraction: 79/158
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 79 is a prime number.
- 158 = 2 × 79
- 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 (79; 158) = 79
79/158 = (79 ÷ 79)/(158 ÷ 79) = 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
79/158 = 79/(2 × 79) = (79 ÷ 79)/((2 × 79) ÷ 79) = 1/2