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: - 175/89
- 175/89 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 175 = 52 × 7
- 89 is a prime number.
- GCF (175; 89) = 1
The fraction: - 184/92
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 184 = 23 × 23
- 92 = 22 × 23
- 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 (184; 92) = 22 × 23 = 92
- 184/92 = - (184 ÷ 92)/(92 ÷ 92) = - 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:
- 184/92 = - (23 × 23)/(22 × 23) = - ((23 × 23) ÷ (22 × 23))/((22 × 23) ÷ (22 × 23)) = - 2/1 = - 2