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Answers.everydaycalculation.com » Compare fractions

Compare 2/5 and 7/16

2/5 is smaller than 7/16

Steps for comparing fractions

  1. Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
    LCM of 5 and 16 is 80

    Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 80
  2. For the 1st fraction, since 5 × 16 = 80,
    2/5 = 2 × 16/5 × 16 = 32/80
  3. Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 16 × 5 = 80,
    7/16 = 7 × 5/16 × 5 = 35/80
  4. Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
  5. 32/80 < 35/80 or 2/5 < 7/16

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