Compare 42/16 and 21/7
1st number: 2 10/16, 2nd number: 3 0/7
42/16 is smaller than 21/7
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 16 and 7 is 112
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 112 - For the 1st fraction, since 16 × 7 = 112,
42/16 = 42 × 7/16 × 7 = 294/112 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 7 × 16 = 112,
21/7 = 21 × 16/7 × 16 = 336/112 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 294/112 < 336/112 or 42/16 < 21/7
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