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: - 81/81
- 81/81 = - (81 ÷ 81)/(81 ÷ 81) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 88/86
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 88 = 23 × 11
- 86 = 2 × 43
- 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 (88; 86) = 2
- 88/86 = - (88 ÷ 2)/(86 ÷ 2) = - 44/43
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 88/86 = - (23 × 11)/(2 × 43) = - ((23 × 11) ÷ 2)/((2 × 43) ÷ 2) = - 44/43