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: - 32/32
- 32/32 = - (32 ÷ 32)/(32 ÷ 32) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 40/35
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 40 = 23 × 5
- 35 = 5 × 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 (40; 35) = 5
- 40/35 = - (40 ÷ 5)/(35 ÷ 5) = - 8/7
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 40/35 = - (23 × 5)/(5 × 7) = - ((23 × 5) ÷ 5)/((5 × 7) ÷ 5) = - 8/7