Compare 21/8 and 56/16
1st number: 2 5/8, 2nd number: 3 8/16
21/8 is smaller than 56/16
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 8 and 16 is 16
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 16 - For the 1st fraction, since 8 × 2 = 16,
21/8 = 21 × 2/8 × 2 = 42/16 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 16 × 1 = 16,
56/16 = 56 × 1/16 × 1 = 56/16 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 42/16 < 56/16 or 21/8 < 56/16
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