Question

Compare the fractions. Use <, =, or >. -2/3 -2/8

Answer 1

`-(2)/(8) >-(2)/(3)`

Explanation:

To compare fractions is useful to express the fractions as decimals and compare the values of the decimals first.

Using a calculator we can find that
`-(2)/(3) =-0.66666...` and
`-(2)/(8) =-0.25`.

Now, remember that wen comparing negative numbers the smallest number is the greater one; this is because the closest a negative number is to zero the greatest is value.

-0.66666... and -0.25 are both negative. Since -0.25 is smaller (closer to zero), -0.25 is bigger than -0.66666... In other words, -0.25 > -0.66666...

We know that
`-(2)/(3) =-0.66666...` and
`-(2)/(8) =-0.25`, so we can get back to our original fractions:

`-(2)/(8) >-(2)/(3)`

We can conclude that
`-(2)/(8)` is greater than
`-(2)/(3)`