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: - 26/51
- 26/51 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 26 = 2 × 13
- 51 = 3 × 17
- GCF (26; 51) = 1
The fraction: - 28/56
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 28 = 22 × 7
- 56 = 23 × 7
- 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 (28; 56) = 22 × 7 = 28
- 28/56 = - (28 ÷ 28)/(56 ÷ 28) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 28/56 = - (22 × 7)/(23 × 7) = - ((22 × 7) ÷ (22 × 7))/((23 × 7) ÷ (22 × 7)) = - 1/2