Compare 42/12 and 56/15
1st number: 3 6/12, 2nd number: 3 11/15
42/12 is smaller than 56/15
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 12 and 15 is 60
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 60 - For the 1st fraction, since 12 × 5 = 60,
42/12 = 42 × 5/12 × 5 = 210/60 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 15 × 4 = 60,
56/15 = 56 × 4/15 × 4 = 224/60 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 210/60 < 224/60 or 42/12 < 56/15
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