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: - 20/14
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 20 = 22 × 5
- 14 = 2 × 7
- 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 (20; 14) = 2
- 20/14 = - (20 ÷ 2)/(14 ÷ 2) = - 10/7
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 20/14 = - (22 × 5)/(2 × 7) = - ((22 × 5) ÷ 2)/((2 × 7) ÷ 2) = - 10/7
The fraction: - 22/22
- 22/22 = - (22 ÷ 22)/(22 ÷ 22) = - 1/1 = - 1