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: - 64/16
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 64 = 26
- 16 = 24
- 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 (64; 16) = 24 = 16
- 64/16 = - (64 ÷ 16)/(16 ÷ 16) = - 4/1 = - 4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 64/16 = - 26/24 = - (26 ÷ 24)/(24 ÷ 24) = - 4/1 = - 4
The fraction: - 69/26
- 69/26 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 69 = 3 × 23
- 26 = 2 × 13
- GCF (69; 26) = 1