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: - 154/77
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 154 = 2 × 7 × 11
- 77 = 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 (154; 77) = 7 × 11 = 77
- 154/77 = - (154 ÷ 77)/(77 ÷ 77) = - 2/1 = - 2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 154/77 = - (2 × 7 × 11)/(7 × 11) = - ((2 × 7 × 11) ÷ (7 × 11))/((7 × 11) ÷ (7 × 11)) = - 2/1 = - 2
The fraction: - 161/87
- 161/87 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 161 = 7 × 23
- 87 = 3 × 29
- GCF (161; 87) = 1