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: - 23/101
- 23/101 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 23 is a prime number.
- 101 is a prime number.
- GCF (23; 101) = 1
The fraction: - 27/108
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 27 = 33
- 108 = 22 × 33
- 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 (27; 108) = 33 = 27
- 27/108 = - (27 ÷ 27)/(108 ÷ 27) = - 1/4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 27/108 = - 33/(22 × 33) = - (33 ÷ 33)/((22 × 33) ÷ 33) = - 1/4