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: - 165/74
- 165/74 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 165 = 3 × 5 × 11
- 74 = 2 × 37
- GCF (165; 74) = 1
The fraction: - 168/84
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 168 = 23 × 3 × 7
- 84 = 22 × 3 × 7
- 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 (168; 84) = 22 × 3 × 7 = 84
- 168/84 = - (168 ÷ 84)/(84 ÷ 84) = - 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:
- 168/84 = - (23 × 3 × 7)/(22 × 3 × 7) = - ((23 × 3 × 7) ÷ (22 × 3 × 7))/((22 × 3 × 7) ÷ (22 × 3 × 7)) = - 2/1 = - 2