Compare 1/2 and 72/5
1st number: 1/2, 2nd number: 14 2/5
1/2 is smaller than 72/5
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 2 and 5 is 10
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 10 - For the 1st fraction, since 2 × 5 = 10,
1/2 = 1 × 5/2 × 5 = 5/10 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 5 × 2 = 10,
72/5 = 72 × 2/5 × 2 = 144/10 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 5/10 < 144/10 or 1/2 < 72/5
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