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: - 80/40
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 80 = 24 × 5
- 40 = 23 × 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; 40) = 23 × 5 = 40
- 80/40 = - (80 ÷ 40)/(40 ÷ 40) = - 2/1 = - 2
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 80/40 = - (24 × 5)/(23 × 5) = - ((24 × 5) ÷ (23 × 5))/((23 × 5) ÷ (23 × 5)) = - 2/1 = - 2
The fraction: - 90/43
- 90/43 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 90 = 2 × 32 × 5
- 43 is a prime number.
- GCF (90; 43) = 1