The difference of the greatest and the smallest of the fractions \(\frac{1}{2},\frac{8}{11},\frac{7}{8},\frac{7}{9},\frac{5}{6}\) is:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → \(\displaystyle\frac{3}{8}\)
Only the greatest and the smallest of the five fractions are needed. Fractions are compared most easily as decimals (or over a common denominator), and the two ends are then picked out.
As decimals: \(\frac{1}{2}=0.5\), \(\frac{8}{11}\approx0.727\), \(\frac{7}{8}=0.875\), \(\frac{7}{9}\approx0.778\), \(\frac{5}{6}\approx0.833\)
The greatest is \(\frac{7}{8}\) and the smallest is \(\frac{1}{2}\)
Difference \(\displaystyle =\frac{7}{8}-\frac{1}{2}=\frac{7-4}{8}=\frac{3}{8}\)