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: - 96/16
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 96 = 25 × 3
- 16 = 24
- 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 (96; 16) = 24 = 16
- 96/16 = - (96 ÷ 16)/(16 ÷ 16) = - 6/1 = - 6
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 96/16 = - (25 × 3)/24 = - ((25 × 3) ÷ 24)/(24 ÷ 24) = - 6/1 = - 6
The fraction: - 99/20
- 99/20 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 99 = 32 × 11
- 20 = 22 × 5
- GCF (99; 20) = 1