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: - 237/23
- 237/23 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 237 = 3 × 79
- 23 is a prime number.
- GCF (237; 23) = 1
The fraction: - 243/27
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 243 = 35
- 27 = 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 (243; 27) = 33 = 27
- 243/27 = - (243 ÷ 27)/(27 ÷ 27) = - 9/1 = - 9
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 243/27 = - 35/33 = - (35 ÷ 33)/(33 ÷ 33) = - 9/1 = - 9