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: - 60/134
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 60 = 22 × 3 × 5
- 134 = 2 × 67
- 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 (60; 134) = 2
- 60/134 = - (60 ÷ 2)/(134 ÷ 2) = - 30/67
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 60/134 = - (22 × 3 × 5)/(2 × 67) = - ((22 × 3 × 5) ÷ 2)/((2 × 67) ÷ 2) = - 30/67
The fraction: - 69/138
- 69 = 3 × 23
- 138 = 2 × 3 × 23
- GCF (69; 138) = 3 × 23 = 69
- 69/138 = - (69 ÷ 69)/(138 ÷ 69) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 69/138 = - (3 × 23)/(2 × 3 × 23) = - ((3 × 23) ÷ (3 × 23))/((2 × 3 × 23) ÷ (3 × 23)) = - 1/2