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: - 7/89
- 7/89 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 7 is a prime number.
- 89 is a prime number.
- GCF (7; 89) = 1
The fraction: - 16/96
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 16 = 24
- 96 = 25 × 3
- 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 (16; 96) = 24 = 16
- 16/96 = - (16 ÷ 16)/(96 ÷ 16) = - 1/6
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 16/96 = - 24/(25 × 3) = - (24 ÷ 24)/((25 × 3) ÷ 24) = - 1/6