Compare 42/50 and 72/20
1st number: 42/50, 2nd number: 3 12/20
42/50 is smaller than 72/20
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 50 and 20 is 100
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 100 - For the 1st fraction, since 50 × 2 = 100,
42/50 = 42 × 2/50 × 2 = 84/100 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 20 × 5 = 100,
72/20 = 72 × 5/20 × 5 = 360/100 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 84/100 < 360/100 or 42/50 < 72/20
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