Compare 42/2 and 36/16
1st number: 21 0/2, 2nd number: 2 4/16
42/2 is greater than 36/16
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 2 and 16 is 16
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 16 - For the 1st fraction, since 2 × 8 = 16,
42/2 = 42 × 8/2 × 8 = 336/16 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 16 × 1 = 16,
36/16 = 36 × 1/16 × 1 = 36/16 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 336/16 > 36/16 or 42/2 > 36/16
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