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: - 109/19
- 109/19 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 109 is a prime number.
- 19 is a prime number.
- GCF (109; 19) = 1
The fraction: - 115/23
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 115 = 5 × 23
- 23 is a prime number.
- 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 (115; 23) = 23
- 115/23 = - (115 ÷ 23)/(23 ÷ 23) = - 5/1 = - 5
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 115/23 = - (5 × 23)/23 = - ((5 × 23) ÷ 23)/(23 ÷ 23) = - 5/1 = - 5