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: 492/490
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 492 = 22 × 3 × 41
- 490 = 2 × 5 × 72
- 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 (492; 490) = 2
492/490 = (492 ÷ 2)/(490 ÷ 2) = 246/245
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
492/490 = (22 × 3 × 41)/(2 × 5 × 72) = ((22 × 3 × 41) ÷ 2)/((2 × 5 × 72) ÷ 2) = 246/245
The fraction: 499/499
499/499 = (499 ÷ 499)/(499 ÷ 499) = 1/1 = 1