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: - 8/7
- 8/7 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 8 = 23
- 7 is a prime number.
- GCF (8; 7) = 1
The fraction: - 16/14
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 16 = 24
- 14 = 2 × 7
- 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 (16; 14) = 2
- 16/14 = - (16 ÷ 2)/(14 ÷ 2) = - 8/7
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 16/14 = - 24/(2 × 7) = - (24 ÷ 2)/((2 × 7) ÷ 2) = - 8/7
The fractions are equal.
This is one of the simplest cases when comparing two fractions.
Not only are the numerators of the fractions equal but their denominators are also equal.
::: The operation of comparing fractions :::
The final answer: