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: - 46/97
- 46/97 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 46 = 2 × 23
- 97 is a prime number.
- GCF (46; 97) = 1
The fraction: - 51/102
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 51 = 3 × 17
- 102 = 2 × 3 × 17
- 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 (51; 102) = 3 × 17 = 51
- 51/102 = - (51 ÷ 51)/(102 ÷ 51) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 51/102 = - (3 × 17)/(2 × 3 × 17) = - ((3 × 17) ÷ (3 × 17))/((2 × 3 × 17) ÷ (3 × 17)) = - 1/2