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: - 74/7
- 74/7 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 74 = 2 × 37
- 7 is a prime number.
- GCF (74; 7) = 1
The fraction: - 80/10
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 80 = 24 × 5
- 10 = 2 × 5
- 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 (80; 10) = 2 × 5 = 10
- 80/10 = - (80 ÷ 10)/(10 ÷ 10) = - 8/1 = - 8
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 80/10 = - (24 × 5)/(2 × 5) = - ((24 × 5) ÷ (2 × 5))/((2 × 5) ÷ (2 × 5)) = - 8/1 = - 8