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: 79/79
79/79 = (79 ÷ 79)/(79 ÷ 79) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 86/82
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 86 = 2 × 43
- 82 = 2 × 41
- 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 (86; 82) = 2
86/82 = (86 ÷ 2)/(82 ÷ 2) = 43/41
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
86/82 = (2 × 43)/(2 × 41) = ((2 × 43) ÷ 2)/((2 × 41) ÷ 2) = 43/41