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: - 144/48
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 144 = 24 × 32
- 48 = 24 × 3
- 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 (144; 48) = 24 × 3 = 48
- 144/48 = - (144 ÷ 48)/(48 ÷ 48) = - 3/1 = - 3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 144/48 = - (24 × 32)/(24 × 3) = - ((24 × 32) ÷ (24 × 3))/((24 × 3) ÷ (24 × 3)) = - 3/1 = - 3
The fraction: - 150/50
- 150 = 2 × 3 × 52
- 50 = 2 × 52
- GCF (150; 50) = 2 × 52 = 50
- 150/50 = - (150 ÷ 50)/(50 ÷ 50) = - 3/1 = - 3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 150/50 = - (2 × 3 × 52)/(2 × 52) = - ((2 × 3 × 52) ÷ (2 × 52))/((2 × 52) ÷ (2 × 52)) = - 3/1 = - 3
The numbers are equal.
This is a simple case of comparing and sorting integer numbers.
The integer numbers are a particular case of those fractions that have a denominator equal to 1.
::: The operation of comparing fractions :::
The final answer: