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: - 67/12
- 67/12 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 67 is a prime number.
- 12 = 22 × 3
- GCF (67; 12) = 1
The fraction: - 75/15
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 75 = 3 × 52
- 15 = 3 × 5
- 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 (75; 15) = 3 × 5 = 15
- 75/15 = - (75 ÷ 15)/(15 ÷ 15) = - 5/1 = - 5
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 75/15 = - (3 × 52)/(3 × 5) = - ((3 × 52) ÷ (3 × 5))/((3 × 5) ÷ (3 × 5)) = - 5/1 = - 5