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: - 58/54
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 58 = 2 × 29
- 54 = 2 × 33
- 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; 54) = 2
- 58/54 = - (58 ÷ 2)/(54 ÷ 2) = - 29/27
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 58/54 = - (2 × 29)/(2 × 33) = - ((2 × 29) ÷ 2)/((2 × 33) ÷ 2) = - 29/27
The fraction: - 62/62
- 62/62 = - (62 ÷ 62)/(62 ÷ 62) = - 1/1 = - 1