Compare 16/50 and 21/4
1st number: 16/50, 2nd number: 5 1/4
16/50 is smaller than 21/4
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 50 and 4 is 100
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 100 - For the 1st fraction, since 50 × 2 = 100,
16/50 = 16 × 2/50 × 2 = 32/100 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 4 × 25 = 100,
21/4 = 21 × 25/4 × 25 = 525/100 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 32/100 < 525/100 or 16/50 < 21/4
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