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: - 181/360
- 181/360 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 181 is a prime number.
- 360 = 23 × 32 × 5
- GCF (181; 360) = 1
The fraction: - 184/368
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 184 = 23 × 23
- 368 = 24 × 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; 368) = 23 × 23 = 184
- 184/368 = - (184 ÷ 184)/(368 ÷ 184) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 184/368 = - (23 × 23)/(24 × 23) = - ((23 × 23) ÷ (23 × 23))/((24 × 23) ÷ (23 × 23)) = - 1/2