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: - 102/98
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 102 = 2 × 3 × 17
- 98 = 2 × 72
- 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; 98) = 2
- 102/98 = - (102 ÷ 2)/(98 ÷ 2) = - 51/49
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 102/98 = - (2 × 3 × 17)/(2 × 72) = - ((2 × 3 × 17) ÷ 2)/((2 × 72) ÷ 2) = - 51/49
The fraction: - 107/107
- 107/107 = - (107 ÷ 107)/(107 ÷ 107) = - 1/1 = - 1