Question 21379
<pre><b><font size = 4>WHICH RATIONAL NUMBER IS GREATER? 5/16 OR 7/18?

Two ways to find out:

1. The first way is to change each to a decimal

5/16 = .3125
7/18 = .388888888···

You can easily tell that the second is larger than the first.

Or 

2. Get the least common denominator.

The least common denominator of 16 and 18 is 144

5/16 = 45/144
7/18 = 56/144

Obviously 56 144ths is greater than 45 144ths.

Edwin
AnlytcPhil@aol.com</pre>