Compare 5/24 and 42/16
1st number: 5/24, 2nd number: 2 10/16
5/24 is smaller than 42/16
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 24 and 16 is 48
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 48 - For the 1st fraction, since 24 × 2 = 48,
5/24 = 5 × 2/24 × 2 = 10/48 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 16 × 3 = 48,
42/16 = 42 × 3/16 × 3 = 126/48 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 10/48 < 126/48 or 5/24 < 42/16
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