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: - 32/4
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 32 = 25
- 4 = 22
- 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 (32; 4) = 22 = 4
- 32/4 = - (32 ÷ 4)/(4 ÷ 4) = - 8/1 = - 8
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 32/4 = - 25/22 = - (25 ÷ 22)/(22 ÷ 22) = - 8/1 = - 8
The fraction: - 36/6
- 36 = 22 × 32
- 6 = 2 × 3
- GCF (36; 6) = 2 × 3 = 6
- 36/6 = - (36 ÷ 6)/(6 ÷ 6) = - 6/1 = - 6
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 36/6 = - (22 × 32)/(2 × 3) = - ((22 × 32) ÷ (2 × 3))/((2 × 3) ÷ (2 × 3)) = - 6/1 = - 6
Sort the integer numbers in ascending order.
This is a simple case of comparing and sorting integer numbers.
The integer numbers are a particular case of those fractions that have a denominator equal to 1.
::: The operation of comparing fractions :::
The final answer: