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: - 168/25
- 168/25 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 168 = 23 × 3 × 7
- 25 = 52
- GCF (168; 25) = 1
The fraction: - 170/34
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 170 = 2 × 5 × 17
- 34 = 2 × 17
- 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; 34) = 2 × 17 = 34
- 170/34 = - (170 ÷ 34)/(34 ÷ 34) = - 5/1 = - 5
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 170/34 = - (2 × 5 × 17)/(2 × 17) = - ((2 × 5 × 17) ÷ (2 × 17))/((2 × 17) ÷ (2 × 17)) = - 5/1 = - 5