Compare 21/50 and 80/40
1st number: 21/50, 2nd number: 2 0/40
21/50 is smaller than 80/40
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 50 and 40 is 200
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 200 - For the 1st fraction, since 50 × 4 = 200,
21/50 = 21 × 4/50 × 4 = 84/200 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 40 × 5 = 200,
80/40 = 80 × 5/40 × 5 = 400/200 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 84/200 < 400/200 or 21/50 < 80/40
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