2006-09-12 15:26:24 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
find the least common denominator. (the lowest number that 5, 10, 15, and 16 all go into)
then multiply the top number by how many times the bottom goes into the least common denominator.
I chose 240 because all of the denominators go into it.
the lowest number is the smallest.
1/5 = 48/240 (5 goes into 240 48 times, so 48 x 1= 48)
3/10 = 72/240 (10 goes into 240 24 times, so 3 x 24 = 72)
4/15 = 64/240 etc...
3/16 = 45/240
So, 3/16 is the smallest
2006-09-12 15:29:19 · answer #1 · answered by deedee 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can either just use a calculator to convert them to decimal values and see which is the smallest, or
create a common denominator with which you can compare the different fractions.
And actually you don't even need to do that for all of them.
Since it is just asking for the smallest, you can rule out the 2nd number, because 3/10 is greater than 2/10 (1/5 or 0.2).
Then compare the 1st and 3rd. 1/5 = 3/15, so the 1st number is smaller than the 3rd.
Now you have to compare the 1st and 4th. You already know the first number is 3/15. So is 3/15 smaller or greater than 3/16?
It is greater, since the denominator is smaller.
Thus the answer is the last one: 3/16.
2006-09-12 15:32:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
1/5 is the smallest. The closest other possible answer is 3/16. Which is 1/16 more than 1/5.
2006-09-12 15:37:36 · answer #3 · answered by nursie1986 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to convert everything to one common denominator and then see which numerator is the biggest.
For example, 1/5 is the same as 2/10, so 3/10 is larger.
Just by looking at the numbers, I can see logically that 3/16 must be the smallest.
2006-09-12 15:28:50 · answer #4 · answered by nora22000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think of fractions as a division problem
1/5 = .2
3/10 = .3
4/15 = .2666
3/16 = .1875
which would make 3/16 the smallest of the 4
2006-09-12 15:30:25 · answer #5 · answered by Ron L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
3/16
2006-09-12 15:27:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
3/10 is the smallest, just divide the denominator by the numerator and look at the outcome values
2006-09-12 15:35:55 · answer #7 · answered by tx_realezt_female903 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
3/16 is the smallest. the larger the denominator the smaller the number. you just have to be carefull and make sure you look at the numerators also because the larger the numerator the larger the number.
2006-09-12 15:35:38 · answer #8 · answered by Matty G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Convert all the fractions to decimals and see which one is smaller.. eg 1/5 = .20 3/10 = .30 etc
2006-09-12 15:31:16 · answer #9 · answered by Papa John 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can divide the numerator (top #) by the denominator (bottom #).. the one with the lowest value is your answer.
or hard way:
give them all a common denominator (make the bottom # the same across)
the resulting fraction with the smallest numerator is your answer.
2006-09-12 15:29:44 · answer #10 · answered by Sean06 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋