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: - 144/72
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 144 = 24 × 32
- 72 = 23 × 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 (144; 72) = 23 × 32 = 72
- 144/72 = - (144 ÷ 72)/(72 ÷ 72) = - 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:
- 144/72 = - (24 × 32)/(23 × 32) = - ((24 × 32) ÷ (23 × 32))/((23 × 32) ÷ (23 × 32)) = - 2/1 = - 2
The fraction: - 149/75
- 149/75 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 149 is a prime number.
- 75 = 3 × 52
- GCF (149; 75) = 1