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: - 48/10
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 48 = 24 × 3
- 10 = 2 × 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 (48; 10) = 2
- 48/10 = - (48 ÷ 2)/(10 ÷ 2) = - 24/5
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 48/10 = - (24 × 3)/(2 × 5) = - ((24 × 3) ÷ 2)/((2 × 5) ÷ 2) = - 24/5
The fraction: - 51/17
- 51 = 3 × 17
- 17 is a prime number.
- GCF (51; 17) = 17
- 51/17 = - (51 ÷ 17)/(17 ÷ 17) = - 3/1 = - 3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 51/17 = - (3 × 17)/17 = - ((3 × 17) ÷ 17)/(17 ÷ 17) = - 3/1 = - 3