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: - 7/28
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 7 is a prime number.
- 28 = 22 × 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 (7; 28) = 7
- 7/28 = - (7 ÷ 7)/(28 ÷ 7) = - 1/4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 7/28 = - 7/(22 × 7) = - (7 ÷ 7)/((22 × 7) ÷ 7) = - 1/4
The fraction: - 9/35
- 9/35 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 9 = 32
- 35 = 5 × 7
- GCF (9; 35) = 1