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: 86/80
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 86 = 2 × 43
- 80 = 24 × 5
- 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; 80) = 2
86/80 = (86 ÷ 2)/(80 ÷ 2) = 43/40
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
86/80 = (2 × 43)/(24 × 5) = ((2 × 43) ÷ 2)/((24 × 5) ÷ 2) = 43/40
The fraction: 90/90
90/90 = (90 ÷ 90)/(90 ÷ 90) = 1/1 = 1