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: - 25/100
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 25 = 52
- 100 = 22 × 52
- 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 (25; 100) = 52 = 25
- 25/100 = - (25 ÷ 25)/(100 ÷ 25) = - 1/4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 25/100 = - 52/(22 × 52) = - (52 ÷ 52)/((22 × 52) ÷ 52) = - 1/4
The fraction: - 28/105
- 28 = 22 × 7
- 105 = 3 × 5 × 7
- GCF (28; 105) = 7
- 28/105 = - (28 ÷ 7)/(105 ÷ 7) = - 4/15
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 28/105 = - (22 × 7)/(3 × 5 × 7) = - ((22 × 7) ÷ 7)/((3 × 5 × 7) ÷ 7) = - 4/15