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: - 12/19
- 12/19 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 12 = 22 × 3
- 19 is a prime number.
- GCF (12; 19) = 1
The fraction: - 14/28
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 14 = 2 × 7
- 28 = 22 × 7
- 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 (14; 28) = 2 × 7 = 14
- 14/28 = - (14 ÷ 14)/(28 ÷ 14) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 14/28 = - (2 × 7)/(22 × 7) = - ((2 × 7) ÷ (2 × 7))/((22 × 7) ÷ (2 × 7)) = - 1/2