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: - 353/178
- 353/178 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 353 is a prime number.
- 178 = 2 × 89
- GCF (353; 178) = 1
The fraction: - 362/181
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 362 = 2 × 181
- 181 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 (362; 181) = 181
- 362/181 = - (362 ÷ 181)/(181 ÷ 181) = - 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:
- 362/181 = - (2 × 181)/181 = - ((2 × 181) ÷ 181)/(181 ÷ 181) = - 2/1 = - 2