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: - 105/52
- 105/52 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 105 = 3 × 5 × 7
- 52 = 22 × 13
- GCF (105; 52) = 1
The fraction: - 110/55
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 110 = 2 × 5 × 11
- 55 = 5 × 11
- 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 (110; 55) = 5 × 11 = 55
- 110/55 = - (110 ÷ 55)/(55 ÷ 55) = - 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:
- 110/55 = - (2 × 5 × 11)/(5 × 11) = - ((2 × 5 × 11) ÷ (5 × 11))/((5 × 11) ÷ (5 × 11)) = - 2/1 = - 2