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: - 77/163
- 77/163 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 77 = 7 × 11
- 163 is a prime number.
- GCF (77; 163) = 1
The fraction: - 84/168
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 84 = 22 × 3 × 7
- 168 = 23 × 3 × 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 (84; 168) = 22 × 3 × 7 = 84
- 84/168 = - (84 ÷ 84)/(168 ÷ 84) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 84/168 = - (22 × 3 × 7)/(23 × 3 × 7) = - ((22 × 3 × 7) ÷ (22 × 3 × 7))/((23 × 3 × 7) ÷ (22 × 3 × 7)) = - 1/2