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: - 50/100
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 50 = 2 × 52
- 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 (50; 100) = 2 × 52 = 50
- 50/100 = - (50 ÷ 50)/(100 ÷ 50) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 50/100 = - (2 × 52)/(22 × 52) = - ((2 × 52) ÷ (2 × 52))/((22 × 52) ÷ (2 × 52)) = - 1/2
The fraction: - 54/109
- 54/109 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 54 = 2 × 33
- 109 is a prime number.
- GCF (54; 109) = 1