Question

Here are two sums.

2/15 + 1/3 6/7 - 1/3
a b
which of the two sums is closer in value to 1/2 ?
you must show your working.

Answer 1

2/15+5/15=7/15 and 18/21-7/21=11/21
7/15 is 46.66 percent off by 3.44 percent
11/21 is 52.38 percent off by 2.38 percent
so 6/7-1/3 is the answer

Answer 2

6/7 - 1/3

Explanation:

You know that 1/2=0,5

Then, you have to solve the two sums:

`2/15+1/3=((2*3)+(15*1))/(15*3)=(6+15)/45=21/45=0,4666=0,47`

`6/7-1/3=((6*3)-(7*1))/(7*3)=(18-7)/21=11/21=0,5238=0,52`

You now know what number of 0,47 and 0,52 is closer to 0,5; which is 0,52

0,47 is to 0,03 from 0,5

0,52 is to 0,02 from 0,5