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: - 258/258
- 258/258 = - (258 ÷ 258)/(258 ÷ 258) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 267/264
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 267 = 3 × 89
- 264 = 23 × 3 × 11
- 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 (267; 264) = 3
- 267/264 = - (267 ÷ 3)/(264 ÷ 3) = - 89/88
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 267/264 = - (3 × 89)/(23 × 3 × 11) = - ((3 × 89) ÷ 3)/((23 × 3 × 11) ÷ 3) = - 89/88