Compare 42/16 and 21/5
1st number: 2 10/16, 2nd number: 4 1/5
42/16 is smaller than 21/5
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 16 and 5 is 80
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 80 - For the 1st fraction, since 16 × 5 = 80,
42/16 = 42 × 5/16 × 5 = 210/80 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 5 × 16 = 80,
21/5 = 21 × 16/5 × 16 = 336/80 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 210/80 < 336/80 or 42/16 < 21/5
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