Compare 12/84 and 72/40
1st number: 12/84, 2nd number: 1 32/40
12/84 is smaller than 72/40
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 84 and 40 is 840
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 840 - For the 1st fraction, since 84 × 10 = 840,
12/84 = 12 × 10/84 × 10 = 120/840 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 40 × 21 = 840,
72/40 = 72 × 21/40 × 21 = 1512/840 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 120/840 < 1512/840 or 12/84 < 72/40
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