Compare 72/4 and 42/12
1st number: 18 0/4, 2nd number: 3 6/12
72/4 is greater than 42/12
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 4 and 12 is 12
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 12 - For the 1st fraction, since 4 × 3 = 12,
72/4 = 72 × 3/4 × 3 = 216/12 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 12 × 1 = 12,
42/12 = 42 × 1/12 × 1 = 42/12 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 216/12 > 42/12 or 72/4 > 42/12
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