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: - 5/3
- 5/3 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 5 is a prime number.
- 3 is a prime number.
- GCF (5; 3) = 1
The fraction: - 14/7
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 14 = 2 × 7
- 7 is a prime number.
- 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 (14; 7) = 7
- 14/7 = - (14 ÷ 7)/(7 ÷ 7) = - 2/1 = - 2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 14/7 = - (2 × 7)/7 = - ((2 × 7) ÷ 7)/(7 ÷ 7) = - 2/1 = - 2