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: - 154/37
- 154/37 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 154 = 2 × 7 × 11
- 37 is a prime number.
- GCF (154; 37) = 1
The fraction: - 164/41
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 164 = 22 × 41
- 41 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 (164; 41) = 41
- 164/41 = - (164 ÷ 41)/(41 ÷ 41) = - 4/1 = - 4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 164/41 = - (22 × 41)/41 = - ((22 × 41) ÷ 41)/(41 ÷ 41) = - 4/1 = - 4