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: - 79/79
- 79/79 = - (79 ÷ 79)/(79 ÷ 79) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 84/82
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 84 = 22 × 3 × 7
- 82 = 2 × 41
- 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 (84; 82) = 2
- 84/82 = - (84 ÷ 2)/(82 ÷ 2) = - 42/41
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 84/82 = - (22 × 3 × 7)/(2 × 41) = - ((22 × 3 × 7) ÷ 2)/((2 × 41) ÷ 2) = - 42/41