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: - 66/132
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 66 = 2 × 3 × 11
- 132 = 22 × 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 (66; 132) = 2 × 3 × 11 = 66
- 66/132 = - (66 ÷ 66)/(132 ÷ 66) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 66/132 = - (2 × 3 × 11)/(22 × 3 × 11) = - ((2 × 3 × 11) ÷ (2 × 3 × 11))/((22 × 3 × 11) ÷ (2 × 3 × 11)) = - 1/2
The fraction: - 68/135
- 68/135 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 68 = 22 × 17
- 135 = 33 × 5
- GCF (68; 135) = 1