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Answers.everydaycalculation.com » Compare fractions

Compare 3/12 and 56/42

1st number: 3/12, 2nd number: 1 14/42

3/12 is smaller than 56/42

Steps for comparing fractions

  1. Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
    LCM of 12 and 42 is 84

    Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 84
  2. For the 1st fraction, since 12 × 7 = 84,
    3/12 = 3 × 7/12 × 7 = 21/84
  3. Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 42 × 2 = 84,
    56/42 = 56 × 2/42 × 2 = 112/84
  4. Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
  5. 21/84 < 112/84 or 3/12 < 56/42

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