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: - 37/11
- 37/11 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 37 is a prime number.
- 11 is a prime number.
- GCF (37; 11) = 1