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: - 75/69
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 75 = 3 × 52
- 69 = 3 × 23
- 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 (75; 69) = 3
- 75/69 = - (75 ÷ 3)/(69 ÷ 3) = - 25/23
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 75/69 = - (3 × 52)/(3 × 23) = - ((3 × 52) ÷ 3)/((3 × 23) ÷ 3) = - 25/23