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: - 48/8
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 48 = 24 × 3
- 8 = 23
- 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; 8) = 23 = 8
- 48/8 = - (48 ÷ 8)/(8 ÷ 8) = - 6/1 = - 6
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 48/8 = - (24 × 3)/23 = - ((24 × 3) ÷ 23)/(23 ÷ 23) = - 6/1 = - 6
The fraction: - 57/10
- 57/10 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 57 = 3 × 19
- 10 = 2 × 5
- GCF (57; 10) = 1