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: - 6/102
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 6 = 2 × 3
- 102 = 2 × 3 × 17
- 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 (6; 102) = 2 × 3 = 6
- 6/102 = - (6 ÷ 6)/(102 ÷ 6) = - 1/17
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 6/102 = - (2 × 3)/(2 × 3 × 17) = - ((2 × 3) ÷ (2 × 3))/((2 × 3 × 17) ÷ (2 × 3)) = - 1/17
The fraction: - 13/106
- 13/106 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 13 is a prime number.
- 106 = 2 × 53
- GCF (13; 106) = 1