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: 485/485
485/485 = (485 ÷ 485)/(485 ÷ 485) = 1/1 = 1
The fraction: 494/488
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 494 = 2 × 13 × 19
- 488 = 23 × 61
- 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 (494; 488) = 2
494/488 = (494 ÷ 2)/(488 ÷ 2) = 247/244
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
494/488 = (2 × 13 × 19)/(23 × 61) = ((2 × 13 × 19) ÷ 2)/((23 × 61) ÷ 2) = 247/244