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: - 16/3
- 16/3 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 16 = 24
- 3 is a prime number.
- GCF (16; 3) = 1
The fraction: - 24/8
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 24 = 23 × 3
- 8 = 23
- 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; 8) = 23 = 8
- 24/8 = - (24 ÷ 8)/(8 ÷ 8) = - 3/1 = - 3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 24/8 = - (23 × 3)/23 = - ((23 × 3) ÷ 23)/(23 ÷ 23) = - 3/1 = - 3