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: - 45/90
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 45 = 32 × 5
- 90 = 2 × 32 × 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 (45; 90) = 32 × 5 = 45
- 45/90 = - (45 ÷ 45)/(90 ÷ 45) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 45/90 = - (32 × 5)/(2 × 32 × 5) = - ((32 × 5) ÷ (32 × 5))/((2 × 32 × 5) ÷ (32 × 5)) = - 1/2
The fraction: - 48/95
- 48/95 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 48 = 24 × 3
- 95 = 5 × 19
- GCF (48; 95) = 1