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: - 80/5
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 80 = 24 × 5
- 5 is a prime number.
- 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; 5) = 5
- 80/5 = - (80 ÷ 5)/(5 ÷ 5) = - 16/1 = - 16
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 80/5 = - (24 × 5)/5 = - ((24 × 5) ÷ 5)/(5 ÷ 5) = - 16/1 = - 16
The fraction: - 87/7
- 87/7 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 87 = 3 × 29
- 7 is a prime number.
- GCF (87; 7) = 1