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: - 149/13
- 149/13 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 149 is a prime number.
- 13 is a prime number.
- GCF (149; 13) = 1
The fraction: - 153/17
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 153 = 32 × 17
- 17 is a prime number.
- 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 (153; 17) = 17
- 153/17 = - (153 ÷ 17)/(17 ÷ 17) = - 9/1 = - 9
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 153/17 = - (32 × 17)/17 = - ((32 × 17) ÷ 17)/(17 ÷ 17) = - 9/1 = - 9