Compare 1/40 and 72/54
1st number: 1/40, 2nd number: 1 18/54
1/40 is smaller than 72/54
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 40 and 54 is 1080
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 1080 - For the 1st fraction, since 40 × 27 = 1080,
1/40 = 1 × 27/40 × 27 = 27/1080 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 54 × 20 = 1080,
72/54 = 72 × 20/54 × 20 = 1440/1080 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 27/1080 < 1440/1080 or 1/40 < 72/54
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