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: - 201/64
- 201/64 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 201 = 3 × 67
- 64 = 26
- GCF (201; 64) = 1
The fraction: - 207/69
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 207 = 32 × 23
- 69 = 3 × 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 (207; 69) = 3 × 23 = 69
- 207/69 = - (207 ÷ 69)/(69 ÷ 69) = - 3/1 = - 3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 207/69 = - (32 × 23)/(3 × 23) = - ((32 × 23) ÷ (3 × 23))/((3 × 23) ÷ (3 × 23)) = - 3/1 = - 3