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: - 94/94
- 94/94 = - (94 ÷ 94)/(94 ÷ 94) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 99/96
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 99 = 32 × 11
- 96 = 25 × 3
- 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 (99; 96) = 3
- 99/96 = - (99 ÷ 3)/(96 ÷ 3) = - 33/32
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 99/96 = - (32 × 11)/(25 × 3) = - ((32 × 11) ÷ 3)/((25 × 3) ÷ 3) = - 33/32