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: - 297/3
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 297 = 33 × 11
- 3 is a prime number.
- 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 (297; 3) = 3
- 297/3 = - (297 ÷ 3)/(3 ÷ 3) = - 99/1 = - 99
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 297/3 = - (33 × 11)/3 = - ((33 × 11) ÷ 3)/(3 ÷ 3) = - 99/1 = - 99
The fraction: - 303/8
- 303/8 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 303 = 3 × 101
- 8 = 23
- GCF (303; 8) = 1