Final answer:
To complete the statement 'The number of apples is ______ the number of oranges', specific information about the quantities is required. The terms 'fewer' and 'more than' apply when comparing countable items such as apples and oranges.
Step-by-step explanation:
The completion of the statement 'The number of apples is ______ the number of oranges' requires additional context or data to fill in the blank with either A. More than, B. Fewer than, or C. The same as. Without specific information about the number of apples and oranges, it is impossible to provide a definitive answer. If this is a question from a word problem, please provide the problem's details, and I can assist further.
It is important to note that the words 'fewer' and 'less' are often confused. Fewer refers to items that can be counted, such as apples and oranges, while less is used with uncountable nouns. An example of correct usage would be, 'I have fewer apples than oranges', or 'I have less juice than you do.'
If a direct comparison was provided, such as 'Tom has 5 apples, and Sarah has 3 oranges,' the sentence would be completed as 'The number of apples is more than the number of oranges.' However, without such details, option D. None of the above might be required as a placeholder until the specific numbers are known.