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: - 174/19
- 174/19 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 174 = 2 × 3 × 29
- 19 is a prime number.
- GCF (174; 19) = 1
The fraction: - 182/26
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 182 = 2 × 7 × 13
- 26 = 2 × 13
- 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 (182; 26) = 2 × 13 = 26
- 182/26 = - (182 ÷ 26)/(26 ÷ 26) = - 7/1 = - 7
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 182/26 = - (2 × 7 × 13)/(2 × 13) = - ((2 × 7 × 13) ÷ (2 × 13))/((2 × 13) ÷ (2 × 13)) = - 7/1 = - 7