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: - 57/114
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 57 = 3 × 19
- 114 = 2 × 3 × 19
- 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 (57; 114) = 3 × 19 = 57
- 57/114 = - (57 ÷ 57)/(114 ÷ 57) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 57/114 = - (3 × 19)/(2 × 3 × 19) = - ((3 × 19) ÷ (3 × 19))/((2 × 3 × 19) ÷ (3 × 19)) = - 1/2
The fraction: - 62/116
- 62 = 2 × 31
- 116 = 22 × 29
- GCF (62; 116) = 2
- 62/116 = - (62 ÷ 2)/(116 ÷ 2) = - 31/58
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 62/116 = - (2 × 31)/(22 × 29) = - ((2 × 31) ÷ 2)/((22 × 29) ÷ 2) = - 31/58