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: - 124/63
- 124/63 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 124 = 22 × 31
- 63 = 32 × 7
- GCF (124; 63) = 1
The fraction: - 132/66
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 132 = 22 × 3 × 11
- 66 = 2 × 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; 66) = 2 × 3 × 11 = 66
- 132/66 = - (132 ÷ 66)/(66 ÷ 66) = - 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:
- 132/66 = - (22 × 3 × 11)/(2 × 3 × 11) = - ((22 × 3 × 11) ÷ (2 × 3 × 11))/((2 × 3 × 11) ÷ (2 × 3 × 11)) = - 2/1 = - 2