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: - 37/117
- 37/117 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 37 is a prime number.
- 117 = 32 × 13
- GCF (37; 117) = 1
The fraction: - 41/123
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 41 is a prime number.
- 123 = 3 × 41
- 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 (41; 123) = 41
- 41/123 = - (41 ÷ 41)/(123 ÷ 41) = - 1/3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 41/123 = - 41/(3 × 41) = - (41 ÷ 41)/((3 × 41) ÷ 41) = - 1/3