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: - 48/96
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 48 = 24 × 3
- 96 = 25 × 3
- 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 (48; 96) = 24 × 3 = 48
- 48/96 = - (48 ÷ 48)/(96 ÷ 48) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 48/96 = - (24 × 3)/(25 × 3) = - ((24 × 3) ÷ (24 × 3))/((25 × 3) ÷ (24 × 3)) = - 1/2
The fraction: - 57/102
- 57 = 3 × 19
- 102 = 2 × 3 × 17
- GCF (57; 102) = 3
- 57/102 = - (57 ÷ 3)/(102 ÷ 3) = - 19/34
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 57/102 = - (3 × 19)/(2 × 3 × 17) = - ((3 × 19) ÷ 3)/((2 × 3 × 17) ÷ 3) = - 19/34