Compare 18/21 and 72/12
1st number: 18/21, 2nd number: 6 0/12
18/21 is smaller than 72/12
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 21 and 12 is 84
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 84 - For the 1st fraction, since 21 × 4 = 84,
18/21 = 18 × 4/21 × 4 = 72/84 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 12 × 7 = 84,
72/12 = 72 × 7/12 × 7 = 504/84 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 72/84 < 504/84 or 18/21 < 72/12
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