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: - 365/360
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 365 = 5 × 73
- 360 = 23 × 32 × 5
- 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 (365; 360) = 5
- 365/360 = - (365 ÷ 5)/(360 ÷ 5) = - 73/72
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 365/360 = - (5 × 73)/(23 × 32 × 5) = - ((5 × 73) ÷ 5)/((23 × 32 × 5) ÷ 5) = - 73/72
The fraction: - 368/368
- 368/368 = - (368 ÷ 368)/(368 ÷ 368) = - 1/1 = - 1