Compare 36/21 and 56/12
1st number: 1 15/21, 2nd number: 4 8/12
36/21 is smaller than 56/12
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 21 and 12 is 84
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 84 - For the 1st fraction, since 21 × 4 = 84,
36/21 = 36 × 4/21 × 4 = 144/84 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 12 × 7 = 84,
56/12 = 56 × 7/12 × 7 = 392/84 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 144/84 < 392/84 or 36/21 < 56/12
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