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: - 26/91
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 26 = 2 × 13
- 91 = 7 × 13
- 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; 91) = 13
- 26/91 = - (26 ÷ 13)/(91 ÷ 13) = - 2/7
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 26/91 = - (2 × 13)/(7 × 13) = - ((2 × 13) ÷ 13)/((7 × 13) ÷ 13) = - 2/7
The fraction: - 31/93
- 31 is a prime number.
- 93 = 3 × 31
- GCF (31; 93) = 31
- 31/93 = - (31 ÷ 31)/(93 ÷ 31) = - 1/3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 31/93 = - 31/(3 × 31) = - (31 ÷ 31)/((3 × 31) ÷ 31) = - 1/3