Compare 72/20 and 84/42
1st number: 3 12/20, 2nd number: 2 0/42
72/20 is greater than 84/42
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 20 and 42 is 420
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 420 - For the 1st fraction, since 20 × 21 = 420,
72/20 = 72 × 21/20 × 21 = 1512/420 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 42 × 10 = 420,
84/42 = 84 × 10/42 × 10 = 840/420 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 1512/420 > 840/420 or 72/20 > 84/42
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