Compare 42/84 and 45/20
1st number: 42/84, 2nd number: 2 5/20
42/84 is smaller than 45/20
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 84 and 20 is 420
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 420 - For the 1st fraction, since 84 × 5 = 420,
42/84 = 42 × 5/84 × 5 = 210/420 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 20 × 21 = 420,
45/20 = 45 × 21/20 × 21 = 945/420 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 210/420 < 945/420 or 42/84 < 45/20
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