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: - 64/64
- 64/64 = - (64 ÷ 64)/(64 ÷ 64) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 68/66
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 68 = 22 × 17
- 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 (68; 66) = 2
- 68/66 = - (68 ÷ 2)/(66 ÷ 2) = - 34/33
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 68/66 = - (22 × 17)/(2 × 3 × 11) = - ((22 × 17) ÷ 2)/((2 × 3 × 11) ÷ 2) = - 34/33