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: - 18/9
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 18 = 2 × 32
- 9 = 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 (18; 9) = 32 = 9
- 18/9 = - (18 ÷ 9)/(9 ÷ 9) = - 2/1 = - 2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 18/9 = - (2 × 32)/32 = - ((2 × 32) ÷ 32)/(32 ÷ 32) = - 2/1 = - 2
The fraction: - 22/16
- 22 = 2 × 11
- 16 = 24
- GCF (22; 16) = 2
- 22/16 = - (22 ÷ 2)/(16 ÷ 2) = - 11/8
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 22/16 = - (2 × 11)/24 = - ((2 × 11) ÷ 2)/(24 ÷ 2) = - 11/8