Compare 42/80 and 81/75, Which fraction is greater?

Compare 42/80 and 81/75

1^st number: 42/80, 2^nd number: 1 6/75

42/80 is smaller than 81/75

Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 80 and 75 is 1200

Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 1200
For the 1st fraction, since 80 × 15 = 1200,
42/80 = 42 × 15/80 × 15 = 630/1200
Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 75 × 16 = 1200,
81/75 = 81 × 16/75 × 16 = 1296/1200
Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
630/1200 < 1296/1200 or 42/80 < 81/75

MathStep (Works offline)

Download our mobile app and learn to work with fractions in your own time:
Android and iPhone/ iPad