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Answers.everydaycalculation.com » Compare fractions

Compare 7/42 and 20/18

1st number: 7/42, 2nd number: 1 2/18

7/42 is smaller than 20/18

Steps for comparing fractions

  1. Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
    LCM of 42 and 18 is 126

    Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 126
  2. For the 1st fraction, since 42 × 3 = 126,
    7/42 = 7 × 3/42 × 3 = 21/126
  3. Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 18 × 7 = 126,
    20/18 = 20 × 7/18 × 7 = 140/126
  4. Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
  5. 21/126 < 140/126 or 7/42 < 20/18

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