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: - 101/47
- 101/47 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 101 is a prime number.
- 47 is a prime number.
- GCF (101; 47) = 1
The fraction: - 104/52
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 104 = 23 × 13
- 52 = 22 × 13
- 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 (104; 52) = 22 × 13 = 52
- 104/52 = - (104 ÷ 52)/(52 ÷ 52) = - 2/1 = - 2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 104/52 = - (23 × 13)/(22 × 13) = - ((23 × 13) ÷ (22 × 13))/((22 × 13) ÷ (22 × 13)) = - 2/1 = - 2