Question

Compare 7/8 and 8/9 by converting each fraction to a decimal. Which is larger? A. 7/8 (or 0.875) is the larger number. B. 8/9 (or 0.888..) is the larger number. C. 8/9 (or 0.8) is the larger number. D. 7/8 (or 0.78) is the larger number.

Answer 1

Answer: 8/9 (or 0.888..) is the larger number.

Step-by-step explanation

Use a calculator, or long division, to find these decimal values:

• 7/8 = 0.875 (exact)
• 8/9 = 0.889 (approximate)

In the decimal expansion of 8/9, the 8's go on forever. But we have to round at some point. I chose to round to 3 decimal digits because 0.875 is to 3 decimal digits.

We see that 0.889 is larger, which must mean 8/9 is larger.