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: - 86/15
- 86/15 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 86 = 2 × 43
- 15 = 3 × 5
- GCF (86; 15) = 1
The fraction: - 88/22
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 88 = 23 × 11
- 22 = 2 × 11
- 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 (88; 22) = 2 × 11 = 22
- 88/22 = - (88 ÷ 22)/(22 ÷ 22) = - 4/1 = - 4
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 88/22 = - (23 × 11)/(2 × 11) = - ((23 × 11) ÷ (2 × 11))/((2 × 11) ÷ (2 × 11)) = - 4/1 = - 4