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: - 76/76
- 76/76 = - (76 ÷ 76)/(76 ÷ 76) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 80/78
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 80 = 24 × 5
- 78 = 2 × 3 × 13
- 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; 78) = 2
- 80/78 = - (80 ÷ 2)/(78 ÷ 2) = - 40/39
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 80/78 = - (24 × 5)/(2 × 3 × 13) = - ((24 × 5) ÷ 2)/((2 × 3 × 13) ÷ 2) = - 40/39