Compare 21/54 and 42/40
1st number: 21/54, 2nd number: 1 2/40
21/54 is smaller than 42/40
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 54 and 40 is 1080
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 1080 - For the 1st fraction, since 54 × 20 = 1080,
21/54 = 21 × 20/54 × 20 = 420/1080 - 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
- 420/1080 < 1134/1080 or 21/54 < 42/40
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