Compare 27/42 and 21/4
1st number: 27/42, 2nd number: 5 1/4
27/42 is smaller than 21/4
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 42 and 4 is 84
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 84 - For the 1st fraction, since 42 × 2 = 84,
27/42 = 27 × 2/42 × 2 = 54/84 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 4 × 21 = 84,
21/4 = 21 × 21/4 × 21 = 441/84 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 54/84 < 441/84 or 27/42 < 21/4
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