Compare 72/20 and 16/4
1st number: 3 12/20, 2nd number: 4 0/4
72/20 is smaller than 16/4
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 20 and 4 is 20
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 20 - For the 1st fraction, since 20 × 1 = 20,
72/20 = 72 × 1/20 × 1 = 72/20 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 4 × 5 = 20,
16/4 = 16 × 5/4 × 5 = 80/20 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 72/20 < 80/20 or 72/20 < 16/4
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