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: - 10/8
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 10 = 2 × 5
- 8 = 23
- 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; 8) = 2
- 10/8 = - (10 ÷ 2)/(8 ÷ 2) = - 5/4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 10/8 = - (2 × 5)/23 = - ((2 × 5) ÷ 2)/(23 ÷ 2) = - 5/4
The fraction: - 18/18
- 18/18 = - (18 ÷ 18)/(18 ÷ 18) = - 1/1 = - 1