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: - 53/29
- 53/29 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 53 is a prime number.
- 29 is a prime number.
- GCF (53; 29) = 1
The fraction: - 62/31
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 62 = 2 × 31
- 31 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 (62; 31) = 31
- 62/31 = - (62 ÷ 31)/(31 ÷ 31) = - 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:
- 62/31 = - (2 × 31)/31 = - ((2 × 31) ÷ 31)/(31 ÷ 31) = - 2/1 = - 2