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: - 56/168
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 56 = 23 × 7
- 168 = 23 × 3 × 7
- 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 (56; 168) = 23 × 7 = 56
- 56/168 = - (56 ÷ 56)/(168 ÷ 56) = - 1/3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 56/168 = - (23 × 7)/(23 × 3 × 7) = - ((23 × 7) ÷ (23 × 7))/((23 × 3 × 7) ÷ (23 × 7)) = - 1/3
The fraction: - 66/176
- 66 = 2 × 3 × 11
- 176 = 24 × 11
- GCF (66; 176) = 2 × 11 = 22
- 66/176 = - (66 ÷ 22)/(176 ÷ 22) = - 3/8
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 66/176 = - (2 × 3 × 11)/(24 × 11) = - ((2 × 3 × 11) ÷ (2 × 11))/((24 × 11) ÷ (2 × 11)) = - 3/8