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: - 89/183
- 89/183 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 89 is a prime number.
- 183 = 3 × 61
- GCF (89; 183) = 1
The fraction: - 93/186
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 93 = 3 × 31
- 186 = 2 × 3 × 31
- 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; 186) = 3 × 31 = 93
- 93/186 = - (93 ÷ 93)/(186 ÷ 93) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 93/186 = - (3 × 31)/(2 × 3 × 31) = - ((3 × 31) ÷ (3 × 31))/((2 × 3 × 31) ÷ (3 × 31)) = - 1/2