Compare 3/4 and 42/21
1st number: 3/4, 2nd number: 2 0/21
3/4 is smaller than 42/21
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 4 and 21 is 84
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 84 - For the 1st fraction, since 4 × 21 = 84,
3/4 = 3 × 21/4 × 21 = 63/84 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 21 × 4 = 84,
42/21 = 42 × 4/21 × 4 = 168/84 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 63/84 < 168/84 or 3/4 < 42/21
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