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: - 60/60
- 60/60 = - (60 ÷ 60)/(60 ÷ 60) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 69/66
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 69 = 3 × 23
- 66 = 2 × 3 × 11
- 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 (69; 66) = 3
- 69/66 = - (69 ÷ 3)/(66 ÷ 3) = - 23/22
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 69/66 = - (3 × 23)/(2 × 3 × 11) = - ((3 × 23) ÷ 3)/((2 × 3 × 11) ÷ 3) = - 23/22