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: - 796/796
- 796/796 = - (796 ÷ 796)/(796 ÷ 796) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 802/798
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 802 = 2 × 401
- 798 = 2 × 3 × 7 × 19
- 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 (802; 798) = 2
- 802/798 = - (802 ÷ 2)/(798 ÷ 2) = - 401/399
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 802/798 = - (2 × 401)/(2 × 3 × 7 × 19) = - ((2 × 401) ÷ 2)/((2 × 3 × 7 × 19) ÷ 2) = - 401/399