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: - 33/66
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 33 = 3 × 11
- 66 = 2 × 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 (33; 66) = 3 × 11 = 33
- 33/66 = - (33 ÷ 33)/(66 ÷ 33) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 33/66 = - (3 × 11)/(2 × 3 × 11) = - ((3 × 11) ÷ (3 × 11))/((2 × 3 × 11) ÷ (3 × 11)) = - 1/2
The fraction: - 37/70
- 37/70 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 37 is a prime number.
- 70 = 2 × 5 × 7
- GCF (37; 70) = 1