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: - 1/1,000
- 1/1,000 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 1 cannot be factored into other prime factors.
- 1,000 = 23 × 53
- GCF (1; 1,000) = 1
The fraction: - 10/1,008
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 10 = 2 × 5
- 1,008 = 24 × 32 × 7
- 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 (10; 1,008) = 2
- 10/1,008 = - (10 ÷ 2)/(1,008 ÷ 2) = - 5/504
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 10/1,008 = - (2 × 5)/(24 × 32 × 7) = - ((2 × 5) ÷ 2)/((24 × 32 × 7) ÷ 2) = - 5/504
To compare and sort the fractions, make their numerators the same.
Expand the fraction that has 1 as a numerator.
Multiply the numerator and denominator by the same number:
- 1/1,000 = - (5 × 1)/(5 × 1,000) = - 5/5,000