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: 94/94
94/94 = (94 ÷ 94)/(94 ÷ 94) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 102/96
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 102 = 2 × 3 × 17
- 96 = 25 × 3
- 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 (102; 96) = 2 × 3 = 6
102/96 = (102 ÷ 6)/(96 ÷ 6) = 17/16
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
102/96 = (2 × 3 × 17)/(25 × 3) = ((2 × 3 × 17) ÷ (2 × 3))/((25 × 3) ÷ (2 × 3)) = 17/16