Compare 42/30 and 21/5
1st number: 1 12/30, 2nd number: 4 1/5
42/30 is smaller than 21/5
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 30 and 5 is 30
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 30 - For the 1st fraction, since 30 × 1 = 30,
42/30 = 42 × 1/30 × 1 = 42/30 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 5 × 6 = 30,
21/5 = 21 × 6/5 × 6 = 126/30 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 42/30 < 126/30 or 42/30 < 21/5
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