Compare 56/40 and 21/8
1st number: 1 16/40, 2nd number: 2 5/8
56/40 is smaller than 21/8
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 40 and 8 is 40
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 40 - For the 1st fraction, since 40 × 1 = 40,
56/40 = 56 × 1/40 × 1 = 56/40 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 8 × 5 = 40,
21/8 = 21 × 5/8 × 5 = 105/40 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 56/40 < 105/40 or 56/40 < 21/8
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