Compare 72/2 and 21/5
1st number: 36 0/2, 2nd number: 4 1/5
72/2 is greater than 21/5
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 2 and 5 is 10
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 10 - For the 1st fraction, since 2 × 5 = 10,
72/2 = 72 × 5/2 × 5 = 360/10 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 5 × 2 = 10,
21/5 = 21 × 2/5 × 2 = 42/10 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 360/10 > 42/10 or 72/2 > 21/5
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