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: - 68/25
- 68/25 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 68 = 22 × 17
- 25 = 52
- GCF (68; 25) = 1
The fraction: - 70/35
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 70 = 2 × 5 × 7
- 35 = 5 × 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 (70; 35) = 5 × 7 = 35
- 70/35 = - (70 ÷ 35)/(35 ÷ 35) = - 2/1 = - 2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 70/35 = - (2 × 5 × 7)/(5 × 7) = - ((2 × 5 × 7) ÷ (5 × 7))/((5 × 7) ÷ (5 × 7)) = - 2/1 = - 2