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: - 167/339
- 167/339 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 167 is a prime number.
- 339 = 3 × 113
- GCF (167; 339) = 1
The fraction: - 172/344
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 172 = 22 × 43
- 344 = 23 × 43
- 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 (172; 344) = 22 × 43 = 172
- 172/344 = - (172 ÷ 172)/(344 ÷ 172) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 172/344 = - (22 × 43)/(23 × 43) = - ((22 × 43) ÷ (22 × 43))/((23 × 43) ÷ (22 × 43)) = - 1/2