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: - 143/5
- 143/5 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 143 = 11 × 13
- 5 is a prime number.
- GCF (143; 5) = 1
The fraction: - 150/10
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 150 = 2 × 3 × 52
- 10 = 2 × 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 (150; 10) = 2 × 5 = 10
- 150/10 = - (150 ÷ 10)/(10 ÷ 10) = - 15/1 = - 15
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 150/10 = - (2 × 3 × 52)/(2 × 5) = - ((2 × 3 × 52) ÷ (2 × 5))/((2 × 5) ÷ (2 × 5)) = - 15/1 = - 15