Compare 3/42 and 45/21
1st number: 3/42, 2nd number: 2 3/21
3/42 is smaller than 45/21
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 42 and 21 is 42
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 42 - For the 1st fraction, since 42 × 1 = 42,
3/42 = 3 × 1/42 × 1 = 3/42 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 21 × 2 = 42,
45/21 = 45 × 2/21 × 2 = 90/42 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 3/42 < 90/42 or 3/42 < 45/21
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