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: - 11/68
- 11/68 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 11 is a prime number.
- 68 = 22 × 17
- GCF (11; 68) = 1
The fraction: - 13/78
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 13 is a prime number.
- 78 = 2 × 3 × 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 (13; 78) = 13
- 13/78 = - (13 ÷ 13)/(78 ÷ 13) = - 1/6
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 13/78 = - 13/(2 × 3 × 13) = - (13 ÷ 13)/((2 × 3 × 13) ÷ 13) = - 1/6