Compare 5/14 and 42/21
1st number: 5/14, 2nd number: 2 0/21
5/14 is smaller than 42/21
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 14 and 21 is 42
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 42 - For the 1st fraction, since 14 × 3 = 42,
5/14 = 5 × 3/14 × 3 = 15/42 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 21 × 2 = 42,
42/21 = 42 × 2/21 × 2 = 84/42 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 15/42 < 84/42 or 5/14 < 42/21
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