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: - 124/124
- 124/124 = - (124 ÷ 124)/(124 ÷ 124) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 133/126
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 133 = 7 × 19
- 126 = 2 × 32 × 7
- 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 (133; 126) = 7
- 133/126 = - (133 ÷ 7)/(126 ÷ 7) = - 19/18
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 133/126 = - (7 × 19)/(2 × 32 × 7) = - ((7 × 19) ÷ 7)/((2 × 32 × 7) ÷ 7) = - 19/18