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: - 151/32
- 151/32 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 151 is a prime number.
- 32 = 25
- GCF (151; 32) = 1
The fraction: - 160/40
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 160 = 25 × 5
- 40 = 23 × 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 (160; 40) = 23 × 5 = 40
- 160/40 = - (160 ÷ 40)/(40 ÷ 40) = - 4/1 = - 4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 160/40 = - (25 × 5)/(23 × 5) = - ((25 × 5) ÷ (23 × 5))/((23 × 5) ÷ (23 × 5)) = - 4/1 = - 4