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: - 150/150
- 150/150 = - (150 ÷ 150)/(150 ÷ 150) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 160/154
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 160 = 25 × 5
- 154 = 2 × 7 × 11
- 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 (160; 154) = 2
- 160/154 = - (160 ÷ 2)/(154 ÷ 2) = - 80/77
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 160/154 = - (25 × 5)/(2 × 7 × 11) = - ((25 × 5) ÷ 2)/((2 × 7 × 11) ÷ 2) = - 80/77