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: - 35/76
- 35/76 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 35 = 5 × 7
- 76 = 22 × 19
- GCF (35; 76) = 1
The fraction: - 40/80
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 40 = 23 × 5
- 80 = 24 × 5
- 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; 80) = 23 × 5 = 40
- 40/80 = - (40 ÷ 40)/(80 ÷ 40) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 40/80 = - (23 × 5)/(24 × 5) = - ((23 × 5) ÷ (23 × 5))/((24 × 5) ÷ (23 × 5)) = - 1/2