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: - 166/166
- 166/166 = - (166 ÷ 166)/(166 ÷ 166) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 170/168
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 170 = 2 × 5 × 17
- 168 = 23 × 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 (170; 168) = 2
- 170/168 = - (170 ÷ 2)/(168 ÷ 2) = - 85/84
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 170/168 = - (2 × 5 × 17)/(23 × 3 × 7) = - ((2 × 5 × 17) ÷ 2)/((23 × 3 × 7) ÷ 2) = - 85/84