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: - 123/28
- 123/28 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 123 = 3 × 41
- 28 = 22 × 7
- GCF (123; 28) = 1
The fraction: - 132/33
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 132 = 22 × 3 × 11
- 33 = 3 × 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 (132; 33) = 3 × 11 = 33
- 132/33 = - (132 ÷ 33)/(33 ÷ 33) = - 4/1 = - 4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 132/33 = - (22 × 3 × 11)/(3 × 11) = - ((22 × 3 × 11) ÷ (3 × 11))/((3 × 11) ÷ (3 × 11)) = - 4/1 = - 4