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: - 55/112
- 55/112 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 55 = 5 × 11
- 112 = 24 × 7
- GCF (55; 112) = 1
The fraction: - 58/116
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 58 = 2 × 29
- 116 = 22 × 29
- 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 (58; 116) = 2 × 29 = 58
- 58/116 = - (58 ÷ 58)/(116 ÷ 58) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 58/116 = - (2 × 29)/(22 × 29) = - ((2 × 29) ÷ (2 × 29))/((22 × 29) ÷ (2 × 29)) = - 1/2