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: - 348/174
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 348 = 22 × 3 × 29
- 174 = 2 × 3 × 29
- 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 (348; 174) = 2 × 3 × 29 = 174
- 348/174 = - (348 ÷ 174)/(174 ÷ 174) = - 2/1 = - 2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 348/174 = - (22 × 3 × 29)/(2 × 3 × 29) = - ((22 × 3 × 29) ÷ (2 × 3 × 29))/((2 × 3 × 29) ÷ (2 × 3 × 29)) = - 2/1 = - 2
The fraction: - 352/177
- 352/177 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 352 = 25 × 11
- 177 = 3 × 59
- GCF (352; 177) = 1