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: - 78/335
- 78/335 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 78 = 2 × 3 × 13
- 335 = 5 × 67
- GCF (78; 335) = 1
The fraction: - 85/340
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 85 = 5 × 17
- 340 = 22 × 5 × 17
- 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 (85; 340) = 5 × 17 = 85
- 85/340 = - (85 ÷ 85)/(340 ÷ 85) = - 1/4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 85/340 = - (5 × 17)/(22 × 5 × 17) = - ((5 × 17) ÷ (5 × 17))/((22 × 5 × 17) ÷ (5 × 17)) = - 1/4