Compare 36/42 and 21/7
1st number: 36/42, 2nd number: 3 0/7
36/42 is smaller than 21/7
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 42 and 7 is 42
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 42 - For the 1st fraction, since 42 × 1 = 42,
36/42 = 36 × 1/42 × 1 = 36/42 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 7 × 6 = 42,
21/7 = 21 × 6/7 × 6 = 126/42 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 36/42 < 126/42 or 36/42 < 21/7
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