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: - 5/31
- 5/31 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 5 is a prime number.
- 31 is a prime number.
- GCF (5; 31) = 1
The fraction: - 7/35
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 7 is a prime number.
- 35 = 5 × 7
- 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 (7; 35) = 7
- 7/35 = - (7 ÷ 7)/(35 ÷ 7) = - 1/5
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 7/35 = - 7/(5 × 7) = - (7 ÷ 7)/((5 × 7) ÷ 7) = - 1/5