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: - 8/16
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 8 = 23
- 16 = 24
- 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 (8; 16) = 23 = 8
- 8/16 = - (8 ÷ 8)/(16 ÷ 8) = - 1/2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 8/16 = - 23/24 = - (23 ÷ 23)/(24 ÷ 23) = - 1/2
The fraction: - 13/25
- 13/25 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 13 is a prime number.
- 25 = 52
- GCF (13; 25) = 1