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: - 71/32
- 71/32 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 71 is a prime number.
- 32 = 25
- GCF (71; 32) = 1
The fraction: - 76/38
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 76 = 22 × 19
- 38 = 2 × 19
- 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 (76; 38) = 2 × 19 = 38
- 76/38 = - (76 ÷ 38)/(38 ÷ 38) = - 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:
- 76/38 = - (22 × 19)/(2 × 19) = - ((22 × 19) ÷ (2 × 19))/((2 × 19) ÷ (2 × 19)) = - 2/1 = - 2