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: - 317/61
- 317/61 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 317 is a prime number.
- 61 is a prime number.
- GCF (317; 61) = 1
The fraction: - 320/64
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 320 = 26 × 5
- 64 = 26
- 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 (320; 64) = 26 = 64
- 320/64 = - (320 ÷ 64)/(64 ÷ 64) = - 5/1 = - 5
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 320/64 = - (26 × 5)/26 = - ((26 × 5) ÷ 26)/(26 ÷ 26) = - 5/1 = - 5