Compare 32/40 and 16/5
1st number: 32/40, 2nd number: 3 1/5
32/40 is smaller than 16/5
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 40 and 5 is 40
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 40 - For the 1st fraction, since 40 × 1 = 40,
32/40 = 32 × 1/40 × 1 = 32/40 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 5 × 8 = 40,
16/5 = 16 × 8/5 × 8 = 128/40 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 32/40 < 128/40 or 32/40 < 16/5
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