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: 108/105
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 108 = 22 × 33
- 105 = 3 × 5 × 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 (108; 105) = 3
108/105 = (108 ÷ 3)/(105 ÷ 3) = 36/35
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
108/105 = (22 × 33)/(3 × 5 × 7) = ((22 × 33) ÷ 3)/((3 × 5 × 7) ÷ 3) = 36/35