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: - 602/596
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 602 = 2 × 7 × 43
- 596 = 22 × 149
- 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 (602; 596) = 2
- 602/596 = - (602 ÷ 2)/(596 ÷ 2) = - 301/298
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 602/596 = - (2 × 7 × 43)/(22 × 149) = - ((2 × 7 × 43) ÷ 2)/((22 × 149) ÷ 2) = - 301/298
The fraction: - 606/606
- 606/606 = - (606 ÷ 606)/(606 ÷ 606) = - 1/1 = - 1