Compare 42/18 and 21/3
1st number: 2 6/18, 2nd number: 7 0/3
42/18 is smaller than 21/3
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 18 and 3 is 18
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 18 - For the 1st fraction, since 18 × 1 = 18,
42/18 = 42 × 1/18 × 1 = 42/18 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 3 × 6 = 18,
21/3 = 21 × 6/3 × 6 = 126/18 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 42/18 < 126/18 or 42/18 < 21/3
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