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: - 50/44
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 50 = 2 × 52
- 44 = 22 × 11
- 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 (50; 44) = 2
- 50/44 = - (50 ÷ 2)/(44 ÷ 2) = - 25/22
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 50/44 = - (2 × 52)/(22 × 11) = - ((2 × 52) ÷ 2)/((22 × 11) ÷ 2) = - 25/22
The fraction: - 54/54
- 54/54 = - (54 ÷ 54)/(54 ÷ 54) = - 1/1 = - 1