Compare 40/84 and 36/20
1st number: 40/84, 2nd number: 1 16/20
40/84 is smaller than 36/20
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 84 and 20 is 420
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 420 - For the 1st fraction, since 84 × 5 = 420,
40/84 = 40 × 5/84 × 5 = 200/420 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 20 × 21 = 420,
36/20 = 36 × 21/20 × 21 = 756/420 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 200/420 < 756/420 or 40/84 < 36/20
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