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: - 9/235
- 9/235 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 9 = 32
- 235 = 5 × 47
- GCF (9; 235) = 1
The fraction: - 15/240
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 15 = 3 × 5
- 240 = 24 × 3 × 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 (15; 240) = 3 × 5 = 15
- 15/240 = - (15 ÷ 15)/(240 ÷ 15) = - 1/16
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 15/240 = - (3 × 5)/(24 × 3 × 5) = - ((3 × 5) ÷ (3 × 5))/((24 × 3 × 5) ÷ (3 × 5)) = - 1/16