Compare 72/2 and 40/18
1st number: 36 0/2, 2nd number: 2 4/18
72/2 is greater than 40/18
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 2 and 18 is 18
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 18 - For the 1st fraction, since 2 × 9 = 18,
72/2 = 72 × 9/2 × 9 = 648/18 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 18 × 1 = 18,
40/18 = 40 × 1/18 × 1 = 40/18 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 648/18 > 40/18 or 72/2 > 40/18
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