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: - 178/176
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 178 = 2 × 89
- 176 = 24 × 11
- 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 (178; 176) = 2
- 178/176 = - (178 ÷ 2)/(176 ÷ 2) = - 89/88
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 178/176 = - (2 × 89)/(24 × 11) = - ((2 × 89) ÷ 2)/((24 × 11) ÷ 2) = - 89/88
The fraction: - 182/182
- 182/182 = - (182 ÷ 182)/(182 ÷ 182) = - 1/1 = - 1