Compare 40/50 and 81/21
1st number: 40/50, 2nd number: 3 18/21
40/50 is smaller than 81/21
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 50 and 21 is 1050
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 1050 - For the 1st fraction, since 50 × 21 = 1050,
40/50 = 40 × 21/50 × 21 = 840/1050 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 21 × 50 = 1050,
81/21 = 81 × 50/21 × 50 = 4050/1050 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 840/1050 < 4050/1050 or 40/50 < 81/21
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