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: - 208/67
- 208/67 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 208 = 24 × 13
- 67 is a prime number.
- GCF (208; 67) = 1
The fraction: - 216/72
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 216 = 23 × 33
- 72 = 23 × 32
- 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 (216; 72) = 23 × 32 = 72
- 216/72 = - (216 ÷ 72)/(72 ÷ 72) = - 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:
- 216/72 = - (23 × 33)/(23 × 32) = - ((23 × 33) ÷ (23 × 32))/((23 × 32) ÷ (23 × 32)) = - 3/1 = - 3