Compare 20/50 and 42/16
1st number: 20/50, 2nd number: 2 10/16
20/50 is smaller than 42/16
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 50 and 16 is 400
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 400 - For the 1st fraction, since 50 × 8 = 400,
20/50 = 20 × 8/50 × 8 = 160/400 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 16 × 25 = 400,
42/16 = 42 × 25/16 × 25 = 1050/400 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 160/400 < 1050/400 or 20/50 < 42/16
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