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: - 24/32
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 24 = 23 × 3
- 32 = 25
- 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 (24; 32) = 23 = 8
- 24/32 = - (24 ÷ 8)/(32 ÷ 8) = - 3/4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 24/32 = - (23 × 3)/25 = - ((23 × 3) ÷ 23)/(25 ÷ 23) = - 3/4
The fraction: - 30/40
- 30 = 2 × 3 × 5
- 40 = 23 × 5
- GCF (30; 40) = 2 × 5 = 10
- 30/40 = - (30 ÷ 10)/(40 ÷ 10) = - 3/4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 30/40 = - (2 × 3 × 5)/(23 × 5) = - ((2 × 3 × 5) ÷ (2 × 5))/((23 × 5) ÷ (2 × 5)) = - 3/4
The fractions are equal.
This is one of the simplest cases when comparing two fractions.
Not only are the numerators of the fractions equal but their denominators are also equal.
::: The operation of comparing fractions :::
The final answer: