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: - 71/20
- 71/20 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 71 is a prime number.
- 20 = 22 × 5
- GCF (71; 20) = 1