Answers

Compare 72/40 and 21/5

1^st number: 1 32/40, 2^nd number: 4 1/5

72/40 is smaller than 21/5

Steps for comparing fractions

1. Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
   LCM of 40 and 5 is 40
2. For the 1st fraction, since 40 × 1 = 40,
   72/40 = 72 × 1/40 × 1 = 72/40
3. Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 5 × 8 = 40,
   21/5 = 21 × 8/5 × 8 = 168/40
4. Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
5. 72/40 < 168/40 or 72/40 < 21/5

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