SOLUTION: Four buttons have diameters of 5/8 , 3/4 ,9/16 , and 7/8 inches. Which button is smallest? IS the smallest the one with the highest bottom number? 9/16?

Algebra ->  Numeric Fractions Calculators, Lesson and Practice -> SOLUTION: Four buttons have diameters of 5/8 , 3/4 ,9/16 , and 7/8 inches. Which button is smallest? IS the smallest the one with the highest bottom number? 9/16?       Log On


   

Question 109183: Four buttons have diameters of 5/8 , 3/4 ,9/16 , and 7/8 inches. Which button is smallest?
IS the smallest the one with the highest bottom number? 9/16?
Found 2 solutions by stanbon, jim_thompson5910:
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Four buttons have diameters of 5/8 , 3/4 ,9/16 , and 7/8 inches. Which button is smallest?
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Change the denominator of each of the fractions to 16:
5/8 = 10/16
3/4 = 12/16
9/16 = 9/16
7/8 = 14/16
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Now you can compare the numbers because they all
have the same denominators:
The smallest is 9/16
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Cheers,
Stan H.

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
To find the smallest fraction, simply get every fraction to have the same denominator. So that means we need to get every denominator to the LCD of 16

So let's multiply 5%2F8 by 2%2F2 to get

%285%2F8%29%282%2F2%29=10%2F16


Now let's multiply 3%2F4 by 4%2F4 to get

%283%2F4%29%284%2F4%29=12%2F16


Finally let's multiply 7%2F8 by 2%2F2 to get

%287%2F8%29%282%2F2%29=14%2F16


So now we have the list

10%2F16, 12%2F16, 9%2F16, and 14%2F16


Now just compare the numerators to see which one is the smallest.

So we can clearly see that 9 is the smallest numerator, so 9%2F16 is the smallest fraction. So the answer is 9%2F16