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: - 4/24
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 4 = 22
- 24 = 23 × 3
- 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 (4; 24) = 22 = 4
- 4/24 = - (4 ÷ 4)/(24 ÷ 4) = - 1/6
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 4/24 = - 22/(23 × 3) = - (22 ÷ 22)/((23 × 3) ÷ 22) = - 1/6
The fraction: - 6/26
- 6 = 2 × 3
- 26 = 2 × 13
- GCF (6; 26) = 2
- 6/26 = - (6 ÷ 2)/(26 ÷ 2) = - 3/13
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 6/26 = - (2 × 3)/(2 × 13) = - ((2 × 3) ÷ 2)/((2 × 13) ÷ 2) = - 3/13