Compare 3/20 and 42/21
1st number: 3/20, 2nd number: 2 0/21
3/20 is smaller than 42/21
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 20 and 21 is 420
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 420 - For the 1st fraction, since 20 × 21 = 420,
3/20 = 3 × 21/20 × 21 = 63/420 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 21 × 20 = 420,
42/21 = 42 × 20/21 × 20 = 840/420 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 63/420 < 840/420 or 3/20 < 42/21
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