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: - 32/8
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 32 = 25
- 8 = 23
- 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; 8) = 23 = 8
- 32/8 = - (32 ÷ 8)/(8 ÷ 8) = - 4/1 = - 4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 32/8 = - 25/23 = - (25 ÷ 23)/(23 ÷ 23) = - 4/1 = - 4
The fraction: - 35/17
- 35/17 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 35 = 5 × 7
- 17 is a prime number.
- GCF (35; 17) = 1