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: - 7/7
- 7/7 = - (7 ÷ 7)/(7 ÷ 7) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 15/9
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 15 = 3 × 5
- 9 = 32
- 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 (15; 9) = 3
- 15/9 = - (15 ÷ 3)/(9 ÷ 3) = - 5/3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 15/9 = - (3 × 5)/32 = - ((3 × 5) ÷ 3)/(32 ÷ 3) = - 5/3