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Answers.everydaycalculation.com » Compare fractions

Compare 5/42 and 21/16

1st number: 5/42, 2nd number: 1 5/16

5/42 is smaller than 21/16

Steps for comparing fractions

  1. Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
    LCM of 42 and 16 is 336

    Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 336
  2. For the 1st fraction, since 42 × 8 = 336,
    5/42 = 5 × 8/42 × 8 = 40/336
  3. Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 16 × 21 = 336,
    21/16 = 21 × 21/16 × 21 = 441/336
  4. Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
  5. 40/336 < 441/336 or 5/42 < 21/16

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