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: 82/82
82/82 = (82 ÷ 82)/(82 ÷ 82) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 91/84
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 91 = 7 × 13
- 84 = 22 × 3 × 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 (91; 84) = 7
91/84 = (91 ÷ 7)/(84 ÷ 7) = 13/12
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
91/84 = (7 × 13)/(22 × 3 × 7) = ((7 × 13) ÷ 7)/((22 × 3 × 7) ÷ 7) = 13/12