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: - 63/57
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 63 = 32 × 7
- 57 = 3 × 19
- 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 (63; 57) = 3
- 63/57 = - (63 ÷ 3)/(57 ÷ 3) = - 21/19
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 63/57 = - (32 × 7)/(3 × 19) = - ((32 × 7) ÷ 3)/((3 × 19) ÷ 3) = - 21/19
The fraction: - 66/66
- 66/66 = - (66 ÷ 66)/(66 ÷ 66) = - 1/1 = - 1