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: - 59/59
- 59/59 = - (59 ÷ 59)/(59 ÷ 59) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 66/64
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 66 = 2 × 3 × 11
- 64 = 26
- 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 (66; 64) = 2
- 66/64 = - (66 ÷ 2)/(64 ÷ 2) = - 33/32
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 66/64 = - (2 × 3 × 11)/26 = - ((2 × 3 × 11) ÷ 2)/(26 ÷ 2) = - 33/32