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: 77/70
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 77 = 7 × 11
- 70 = 2 × 5 × 7
- 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 (77; 70) = 7
77/70 = (77 ÷ 7)/(70 ÷ 7) = 11/10
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
77/70 = (7 × 11)/(2 × 5 × 7) = ((7 × 11) ÷ 7)/((2 × 5 × 7) ÷ 7) = 11/10
The fraction: 79/79
79/79 = (79 ÷ 79)/(79 ÷ 79) = 1/1 = 1