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Answers.everydaycalculation.com » Compare fractions

Compare 3/12 and 21/18

1st number: 3/12, 2nd number: 1 3/18

3/12 is smaller than 21/18

Steps for comparing fractions

  1. Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
    LCM of 12 and 18 is 36

    Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 36
  2. For the 1st fraction, since 12 × 3 = 36,
    3/12 = 3 × 3/12 × 3 = 9/36
  3. Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 18 × 2 = 36,
    21/18 = 21 × 2/18 × 2 = 42/36
  4. Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
  5. 9/36 < 42/36 or 3/12 < 21/18

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