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: - 88/8
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 88 = 23 × 11
- 8 = 23
- 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; 8) = 23 = 8
- 88/8 = - (88 ÷ 8)/(8 ÷ 8) = - 11/1 = - 11
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 88/8 = - (23 × 11)/23 = - ((23 × 11) ÷ 23)/(23 ÷ 23) = - 11/1 = - 11
The fraction: - 91/15
- 91/15 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 91 = 7 × 13
- 15 = 3 × 5
- GCF (91; 15) = 1