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Answers.everydaycalculation.com » Compare fractions

Compare 3/12 and 21/8

1st number: 3/12, 2nd number: 2 5/8

3/12 is smaller than 21/8

Steps for comparing fractions

  1. Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
    LCM of 12 and 8 is 24

    Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 24
  2. For the 1st fraction, since 12 × 2 = 24,
    3/12 = 3 × 2/12 × 2 = 6/24
  3. Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 8 × 3 = 24,
    21/8 = 21 × 3/8 × 3 = 63/24
  4. Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
  5. 6/24 < 63/24 or 3/12 < 21/8

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