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: - 16/16
- 16/16 = - (16 ÷ 16)/(16 ÷ 16) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 24/18
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 24 = 23 × 3
- 18 = 2 × 32
- 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 (24; 18) = 2 × 3 = 6
- 24/18 = - (24 ÷ 6)/(18 ÷ 6) = - 4/3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 24/18 = - (23 × 3)/(2 × 32) = - ((23 × 3) ÷ (2 × 3))/((2 × 32) ÷ (2 × 3)) = - 4/3