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: - 54/6
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 54 = 2 × 33
- 6 = 2 × 3
- 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 (54; 6) = 2 × 3 = 6
- 54/6 = - (54 ÷ 6)/(6 ÷ 6) = - 9/1 = - 9
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 54/6 = - (2 × 33)/(2 × 3) = - ((2 × 33) ÷ (2 × 3))/((2 × 3) ÷ (2 × 3)) = - 9/1 = - 9
The fraction: - 63/16
- 63/16 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 63 = 32 × 7
- 16 = 24
- GCF (63; 16) = 1