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: - 77/11
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 77 = 7 × 11
- 11 is a prime number.
- 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; 11) = 11
- 77/11 = - (77 ÷ 11)/(11 ÷ 11) = - 7/1 = - 7
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 77/11 = - (7 × 11)/11 = - ((7 × 11) ÷ 11)/(11 ÷ 11) = - 7/1 = - 7
The fraction: - 83/21
- 83/21 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 83 is a prime number.
- 21 = 3 × 7
- GCF (83; 21) = 1