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: - 1/25
- 1/25 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 1 cannot be factored into other prime factors.
- 25 = 52
- GCF (1; 25) = 1
The fraction: - 10/34
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 10 = 2 × 5
- 34 = 2 × 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 (10; 34) = 2
- 10/34 = - (10 ÷ 2)/(34 ÷ 2) = - 5/17
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 10/34 = - (2 × 5)/(2 × 17) = - ((2 × 5) ÷ 2)/((2 × 17) ÷ 2) = - 5/17