Compare 21/50 and 40/16
1st number: 21/50, 2nd number: 2 8/16
21/50 is smaller than 40/16
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,
21/50 = 21 × 8/50 × 8 = 168/400 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 16 × 25 = 400,
40/16 = 40 × 25/16 × 25 = 1000/400 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 168/400 < 1000/400 or 21/50 < 40/16
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