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: - 245/58
- 245/58 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 245 = 5 × 72
- 58 = 2 × 29
- GCF (245; 58) = 1
The fraction: - 252/63
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 252 = 22 × 32 × 7
- 63 = 32 × 7
- 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 (252; 63) = 32 × 7 = 63
- 252/63 = - (252 ÷ 63)/(63 ÷ 63) = - 4/1 = - 4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 252/63 = - (22 × 32 × 7)/(32 × 7) = - ((22 × 32 × 7) ÷ (32 × 7))/((32 × 7) ÷ (32 × 7)) = - 4/1 = - 4