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: 80/74
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 80 = 24 × 5
- 74 = 2 × 37
- 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 (80; 74) = 2
80/74 = (80 ÷ 2)/(74 ÷ 2) = 40/37
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
80/74 = (24 × 5)/(2 × 37) = ((24 × 5) ÷ 2)/((2 × 37) ÷ 2) = 40/37
The fraction: 83/83
83/83 = (83 ÷ 83)/(83 ÷ 83) = 1/1 = 1