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: - 142/292
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 142 = 2 × 71
- 292 = 22 × 73
- 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 (142; 292) = 2
- 142/292 = - (142 ÷ 2)/(292 ÷ 2) = - 71/146
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 142/292 = - (2 × 71)/(22 × 73) = - ((2 × 71) ÷ 2)/((22 × 73) ÷ 2) = - 71/146
The fraction: - 149/298
- 149 is a prime number.
- 298 = 2 × 149
- GCF (149; 298) = 149
- 149/298 = - (149 ÷ 149)/(298 ÷ 149) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 149/298 = - 149/(2 × 149) = - (149 ÷ 149)/((2 × 149) ÷ 149) = - 1/2