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: - 22/88
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 22 = 2 × 11
- 88 = 23 × 11
- 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 (22; 88) = 2 × 11 = 22
- 22/88 = - (22 ÷ 22)/(88 ÷ 22) = - 1/4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 22/88 = - (2 × 11)/(23 × 11) = - ((2 × 11) ÷ (2 × 11))/((23 × 11) ÷ (2 × 11)) = - 1/4
The fraction: - 27/95
- 27/95 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 27 = 33
- 95 = 5 × 19
- GCF (27; 95) = 1