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: - 4/60
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 4 = 22
- 60 = 22 × 3 × 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 (4; 60) = 22 = 4
- 4/60 = - (4 ÷ 4)/(60 ÷ 4) = - 1/15
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 4/60 = - 22/(22 × 3 × 5) = - (22 ÷ 22)/((22 × 3 × 5) ÷ 22) = - 1/15
The fraction: - 14/62
- 14 = 2 × 7
- 62 = 2 × 31
- GCF (14; 62) = 2
- 14/62 = - (14 ÷ 2)/(62 ÷ 2) = - 7/31
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 14/62 = - (2 × 7)/(2 × 31) = - ((2 × 7) ÷ 2)/((2 × 31) ÷ 2) = - 7/31