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: - 272/68
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 272 = 24 × 17
- 68 = 22 × 17
- 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 (272; 68) = 22 × 17 = 68
- 272/68 = - (272 ÷ 68)/(68 ÷ 68) = - 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:
- 272/68 = - (24 × 17)/(22 × 17) = - ((24 × 17) ÷ (22 × 17))/((22 × 17) ÷ (22 × 17)) = - 4/1 = - 4
The fraction: - 274/75
- 274/75 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 274 = 2 × 137
- 75 = 3 × 52
- GCF (274; 75) = 1