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: - 2/10
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 2 is a prime number.
- 10 = 2 × 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 (2; 10) = 2
- 2/10 = - (2 ÷ 2)/(10 ÷ 2) = - 1/5
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 2/10 = - 2/(2 × 5) = - (2 ÷ 2)/((2 × 5) ÷ 2) = - 1/5
The fraction: - 5/19
- 5/19 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 5 is a prime number.
- 19 is a prime number.
- GCF (5; 19) = 1