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: - 22/9
- 22/9 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 22 = 2 × 11
- 9 = 32
- GCF (22; 9) = 1
The fraction: - 26/13
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 26 = 2 × 13
- 13 is a prime number.
- 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 (26; 13) = 13
- 26/13 = - (26 ÷ 13)/(13 ÷ 13) = - 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:
- 26/13 = - (2 × 13)/13 = - ((2 × 13) ÷ 13)/(13 ÷ 13) = - 2/1 = - 2