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: - 151/151
- 151/151 = - (151 ÷ 151)/(151 ÷ 151) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 156/153
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 156 = 22 × 3 × 13
- 153 = 32 × 17
- 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 (156; 153) = 3
- 156/153 = - (156 ÷ 3)/(153 ÷ 3) = - 52/51
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 156/153 = - (22 × 3 × 13)/(32 × 17) = - ((22 × 3 × 13) ÷ 3)/((32 × 17) ÷ 3) = - 52/51