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: - 74/149
- 74/149 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 74 = 2 × 37
- 149 is a prime number.
- GCF (74; 149) = 1
The fraction: - 77/154
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 77 = 7 × 11
- 154 = 2 × 7 × 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 (77; 154) = 7 × 11 = 77
- 77/154 = - (77 ÷ 77)/(154 ÷ 77) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 77/154 = - (7 × 11)/(2 × 7 × 11) = - ((7 × 11) ÷ (7 × 11))/((2 × 7 × 11) ÷ (7 × 11)) = - 1/2