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: - 660/66
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 660 = 22 × 3 × 5 × 11
- 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 (660; 66) = 2 × 3 × 11 = 66
- 660/66 = - (660 ÷ 66)/(66 ÷ 66) = - 10/1 = - 10
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 660/66 = - (22 × 3 × 5 × 11)/(2 × 3 × 11) = - ((22 × 3 × 5 × 11) ÷ (2 × 3 × 11))/((2 × 3 × 11) ÷ (2 × 3 × 11)) = - 10/1 = - 10
The fraction: - 664/73
- 664/73 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 664 = 23 × 83
- 73 is a prime number.
- GCF (664; 73) = 1