Compare 3/5 and 81/42
1st number: 3/5, 2nd number: 1 39/42
3/5 is smaller than 81/42
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 5 and 42 is 210
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 210 - For the 1st fraction, since 5 × 42 = 210,
3/5 = 3 × 42/5 × 42 = 126/210 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 42 × 5 = 210,
81/42 = 81 × 5/42 × 5 = 405/210 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 126/210 < 405/210 or 3/5 < 81/42
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