Compare 21/27 and 42/40
1st number: 21/27, 2nd number: 1 2/40
21/27 is smaller than 42/40
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 27 and 40 is 1080
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 1080 - For the 1st fraction, since 27 × 40 = 1080,
21/27 = 21 × 40/27 × 40 = 840/1080 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 40 × 27 = 1080,
42/40 = 42 × 27/40 × 27 = 1134/1080 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 840/1080 < 1134/1080 or 21/27 < 42/40
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