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: - 97/97
- 97/97 = - (97 ÷ 97)/(97 ÷ 97) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 104/102
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 104 = 23 × 13
- 102 = 2 × 3 × 17
- 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 (104; 102) = 2
- 104/102 = - (104 ÷ 2)/(102 ÷ 2) = - 52/51
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 104/102 = - (23 × 13)/(2 × 3 × 17) = - ((23 × 13) ÷ 2)/((2 × 3 × 17) ÷ 2) = - 52/51