Compare 8/21 and 72/40
1st number: 8/21, 2nd number: 1 32/40
8/21 is smaller than 72/40
Steps for comparing fractions
- Find the least common denominator or LCM of the two denominators:
LCM of 21 and 40 is 840
Next, find the equivalent fraction of both fractional numbers with denominator 840 - For the 1st fraction, since 21 × 40 = 840,
8/21 = 8 × 40/21 × 40 = 320/840 - Likewise, for the 2nd fraction, since 40 × 21 = 840,
72/40 = 72 × 21/40 × 21 = 1512/840 - Since the denominators are now the same, the fraction with the bigger numerator is the greater fraction
- 320/840 < 1512/840 or 8/21 < 72/40
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