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: - 18/54
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 18 = 2 × 32
- 54 = 2 × 33
- 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 (18; 54) = 2 × 32 = 18
- 18/54 = - (18 ÷ 18)/(54 ÷ 18) = - 1/3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 18/54 = - (2 × 32)/(2 × 33) = - ((2 × 32) ÷ (2 × 32))/((2 × 33) ÷ (2 × 32)) = - 1/3
The fraction: - 26/57
- 26/57 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 26 = 2 × 13
- 57 = 3 × 19
- GCF (26; 57) = 1