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: - 20/20
- 20/20 = - (20 ÷ 20)/(20 ÷ 20) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 30/26
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 30 = 2 × 3 × 5
- 26 = 2 × 13
- 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 (30; 26) = 2
- 30/26 = - (30 ÷ 2)/(26 ÷ 2) = - 15/13
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 30/26 = - (2 × 3 × 5)/(2 × 13) = - ((2 × 3 × 5) ÷ 2)/((2 × 13) ÷ 2) = - 15/13