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: - 145/290
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 145 = 5 × 29
- 290 = 2 × 5 × 29
- 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 (145; 290) = 5 × 29 = 145
- 145/290 = - (145 ÷ 145)/(290 ÷ 145) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 145/290 = - (5 × 29)/(2 × 5 × 29) = - ((5 × 29) ÷ (5 × 29))/((2 × 5 × 29) ÷ (5 × 29)) = - 1/2
The fraction: - 155/296
- 155/296 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 155 = 5 × 31
- 296 = 23 × 37
- GCF (155; 296) = 1