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: - 141/141
- 141/141 = - (141 ÷ 141)/(141 ÷ 141) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 147/144
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 147 = 3 × 72
- 144 = 24 × 32
- 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 (147; 144) = 3
- 147/144 = - (147 ÷ 3)/(144 ÷ 3) = - 49/48
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 147/144 = - (3 × 72)/(24 × 32) = - ((3 × 72) ÷ 3)/((24 × 32) ÷ 3) = - 49/48