Compare 20/40 and 18/5
1st number: 20/40, 2nd number: 3 3/5
20/40 is smaller than 18/5
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 40 and 5 is 40
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 40 - For the 1st fraction, since 40 × 1 = 40,
20/40 = 20 × 1/40 × 1 = 20/40 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 5 × 8 = 40,
18/5 = 18 × 8/5 × 8 = 144/40 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 20/40 < 144/40 or 20/40 < 18/5
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