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Answers.everydaycalculation.com » Compare fractions

Compare 21/42 and 5/72

21/42 is greater than 5/72

Steps for comparing fractions

  1. Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
    LCM of 42 and 72 is 504

    Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 504
  2. For the 1st fraction, since 42 × 12 = 504,
    21/42 = 21 × 12/42 × 12 = 252/504
  3. Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 72 × 7 = 504,
    5/72 = 5 × 7/72 × 7 = 35/504
  4. Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
  5. 252/504 > 35/504 or 21/42 > 5/72

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