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: - 53/20
- 53/20 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 53 is a prime number.
- 20 = 22 × 5
- GCF (53; 20) = 1
The fraction: - 60/30
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 60 = 22 × 3 × 5
- 30 = 2 × 3 × 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 (60; 30) = 2 × 3 × 5 = 30
- 60/30 = - (60 ÷ 30)/(30 ÷ 30) = - 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:
- 60/30 = - (22 × 3 × 5)/(2 × 3 × 5) = - ((22 × 3 × 5) ÷ (2 × 3 × 5))/((2 × 3 × 5) ÷ (2 × 3 × 5)) = - 2/1 = - 2