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: - 476/476
- 476/476 = - (476 ÷ 476)/(476 ÷ 476) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 486/482
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 486 = 2 × 35
- 482 = 2 × 241
- 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 (486; 482) = 2
- 486/482 = - (486 ÷ 2)/(482 ÷ 2) = - 243/241
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 486/482 = - (2 × 35)/(2 × 241) = - ((2 × 35) ÷ 2)/((2 × 241) ÷ 2) = - 243/241