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: - 30/60
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 30 = 2 × 3 × 5
- 60 = 22 × 3 × 5
- 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 (30; 60) = 2 × 3 × 5 = 30
- 30/60 = - (30 ÷ 30)/(60 ÷ 30) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 30/60 = - (2 × 3 × 5)/(22 × 3 × 5) = - ((2 × 3 × 5) ÷ (2 × 3 × 5))/((22 × 3 × 5) ÷ (2 × 3 × 5)) = - 1/2
The fraction: - 35/65
- 35 = 5 × 7
- 65 = 5 × 13
- GCF (35; 65) = 5
- 35/65 = - (35 ÷ 5)/(65 ÷ 5) = - 7/13
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 35/65 = - (5 × 7)/(5 × 13) = - ((5 × 7) ÷ 5)/((5 × 13) ÷ 5) = - 7/13