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: - 334/11
- 334/11 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 334 = 2 × 167
- 11 is a prime number.
- GCF (334; 11) = 1
The fraction: - 336/16
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 336 = 24 × 3 × 7
- 16 = 24
- 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 (336; 16) = 24 = 16
- 336/16 = - (336 ÷ 16)/(16 ÷ 16) = - 21/1 = - 21
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 336/16 = - (24 × 3 × 7)/24 = - ((24 × 3 × 7) ÷ 24)/(24 ÷ 24) = - 21/1 = - 21