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: - 15/105
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 15 = 3 × 5
- 105 = 3 × 5 × 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 (15; 105) = 3 × 5 = 15
- 15/105 = - (15 ÷ 15)/(105 ÷ 15) = - 1/7
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 15/105 = - (3 × 5)/(3 × 5 × 7) = - ((3 × 5) ÷ (3 × 5))/((3 × 5 × 7) ÷ (3 × 5)) = - 1/7
The fraction: - 23/107
- 23/107 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 23 is a prime number.
- 107 is a prime number.
- GCF (23; 107) = 1