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: 99/99
99/99 = (99 ÷ 99)/(99 ÷ 99) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 108/102
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 108 = 22 × 33
- 102 = 2 × 3 × 17
- 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 (108; 102) = 2 × 3 = 6
108/102 = (108 ÷ 6)/(102 ÷ 6) = 18/17
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
108/102 = (22 × 33)/(2 × 3 × 17) = ((22 × 33) ÷ (2 × 3))/((2 × 3 × 17) ÷ (2 × 3)) = 18/17