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Answers.everydaycalculation.com » Compare fractions

Compare 72/56 and 40/20

1st number: 1 16/56, 2nd number: 2 0/20

72/56 is smaller than 40/20

Steps for comparing fractions

  1. Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
    LCM of 56 and 20 is 280

    Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 280
  2. For the 1st fraction, since 56 × 5 = 280,
    72/56 = 72 × 5/56 × 5 = 360/280
  3. Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 20 × 14 = 280,
    40/20 = 40 × 14/20 × 14 = 560/280
  4. Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
  5. 360/280 < 560/280 or 72/56 < 40/20

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