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: - 33/99
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 33 = 3 × 11
- 99 = 32 × 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; 99) = 3 × 11 = 33
- 33/99 = - (33 ÷ 33)/(99 ÷ 33) = - 1/3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 33/99 = - (3 × 11)/(32 × 11) = - ((3 × 11) ÷ (3 × 11))/((32 × 11) ÷ (3 × 11)) = - 1/3
The fraction: - 43/106
- 43/106 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 43 is a prime number.
- 106 = 2 × 53
- GCF (43; 106) = 1