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: - 64/124
- 64 = 26
- 124 = 22 × 31
- GCF (64; 124) = 22 = 4
- 64/124 = - (64 ÷ 4)/(124 ÷ 4) = - 16/31
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 64/124 = - 26/(22 × 31) = - (26 ÷ 22)/((22 × 31) ÷ 22) = - 16/31