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: - 54/51
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 54 = 2 × 33
- 51 = 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 (54; 51) = 3
- 54/51 = - (54 ÷ 3)/(51 ÷ 3) = - 18/17
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 54/51 = - (2 × 33)/(3 × 17) = - ((2 × 33) ÷ 3)/((3 × 17) ÷ 3) = - 18/17
The fraction: - 56/56
- 56/56 = - (56 ÷ 56)/(56 ÷ 56) = - 1/1 = - 1