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: - 4/100
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 4 = 22
- 100 = 22 × 52
- 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 (4; 100) = 22 = 4
- 4/100 = - (4 ÷ 4)/(100 ÷ 4) = - 1/25
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 4/100 = - 22/(22 × 52) = - (22 ÷ 22)/((22 × 52) ÷ 22) = - 1/25
The fraction: - 11/104
- 11/104 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 11 is a prime number.
- 104 = 23 × 13
- GCF (11; 104) = 1