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: - 14/34
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 14 = 2 × 7
- 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 (14; 34) = 2
- 14/34 = - (14 ÷ 2)/(34 ÷ 2) = - 7/17
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 14/34 = - (2 × 7)/(2 × 17) = - ((2 × 7) ÷ 2)/((2 × 17) ÷ 2) = - 7/17
The fraction: - 19/38
- 19 is a prime number.
- 38 = 2 × 19
- GCF (19; 38) = 19
- 19/38 = - (19 ÷ 19)/(38 ÷ 19) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 19/38 = - 19/(2 × 19) = - (19 ÷ 19)/((2 × 19) ÷ 19) = - 1/2