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: - 82/76
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 82 = 2 × 41
- 76 = 22 × 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 (82; 76) = 2
- 82/76 = - (82 ÷ 2)/(76 ÷ 2) = - 41/38
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 82/76 = - (2 × 41)/(22 × 19) = - ((2 × 41) ÷ 2)/((22 × 19) ÷ 2) = - 41/38
The fraction: - 85/85
- 85/85 = - (85 ÷ 85)/(85 ÷ 85) = - 1/1 = - 1