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: - 83/83
- 83/83 = - (83 ÷ 83)/(83 ÷ 83) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 93/87
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 93 = 3 × 31
- 87 = 3 × 29
- 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 (93; 87) = 3
- 93/87 = - (93 ÷ 3)/(87 ÷ 3) = - 31/29
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 93/87 = - (3 × 31)/(3 × 29) = - ((3 × 31) ÷ 3)/((3 × 29) ÷ 3) = - 31/29