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: - 62/56
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 62 = 2 × 31
- 56 = 23 × 7
- 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; 56) = 2
- 62/56 = - (62 ÷ 2)/(56 ÷ 2) = - 31/28
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 62/56 = - (2 × 31)/(23 × 7) = - ((2 × 31) ÷ 2)/((23 × 7) ÷ 2) = - 31/28
The fraction: - 64/64
- 64/64 = - (64 ÷ 64)/(64 ÷ 64) = - 1/1 = - 1