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: - 90/88
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 90 = 2 × 32 × 5
- 88 = 23 × 11
- 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; 88) = 2
- 90/88 = - (90 ÷ 2)/(88 ÷ 2) = - 45/44
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 90/88 = - (2 × 32 × 5)/(23 × 11) = - ((2 × 32 × 5) ÷ 2)/((23 × 11) ÷ 2) = - 45/44
The fraction: - 98/98
- 98/98 = - (98 ÷ 98)/(98 ÷ 98) = - 1/1 = - 1