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: - 10/30
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 10 = 2 × 5
- 30 = 2 × 3 × 5
- 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; 30) = 2 × 5 = 10
- 10/30 = - (10 ÷ 10)/(30 ÷ 10) = - 1/3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 10/30 = - (2 × 5)/(2 × 3 × 5) = - ((2 × 5) ÷ (2 × 5))/((2 × 3 × 5) ÷ (2 × 5)) = - 1/3
The fraction: - 18/34
- 18 = 2 × 32
- 34 = 2 × 17
- GCF (18; 34) = 2
- 18/34 = - (18 ÷ 2)/(34 ÷ 2) = - 9/17
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 18/34 = - (2 × 32)/(2 × 17) = - ((2 × 32) ÷ 2)/((2 × 17) ÷ 2) = - 9/17