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: - 90/84
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 90 = 2 × 32 × 5
- 84 = 22 × 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 (90; 84) = 2 × 3 = 6
- 90/84 = - (90 ÷ 6)/(84 ÷ 6) = - 15/14
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 90/84 = - (2 × 32 × 5)/(22 × 3 × 7) = - ((2 × 32 × 5) ÷ (2 × 3))/((22 × 3 × 7) ÷ (2 × 3)) = - 15/14
The fraction: - 92/92
- 92/92 = - (92 ÷ 92)/(92 ÷ 92) = - 1/1 = - 1