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: - 67/67
- 67/67 = - (67 ÷ 67)/(67 ÷ 67) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 72/70
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 72 = 23 × 32
- 70 = 2 × 5 × 7
- 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 (72; 70) = 2
- 72/70 = - (72 ÷ 2)/(70 ÷ 2) = - 36/35
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 72/70 = - (23 × 32)/(2 × 5 × 7) = - ((23 × 32) ÷ 2)/((2 × 5 × 7) ÷ 2) = - 36/35