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: - 8/24
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 8 = 23
- 24 = 23 × 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 (8; 24) = 23 = 8
- 8/24 = - (8 ÷ 8)/(24 ÷ 8) = - 1/3
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 8/24 = - 23/(23 × 3) = - (23 ÷ 23)/((23 × 3) ÷ 23) = - 1/3
The fraction: - 18/28
- 18 = 2 × 32
- 28 = 22 × 7
- GCF (18; 28) = 2
- 18/28 = - (18 ÷ 2)/(28 ÷ 2) = - 9/14
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 18/28 = - (2 × 32)/(22 × 7) = - ((2 × 32) ÷ 2)/((22 × 7) ÷ 2) = - 9/14