PSAT Math : General Fractions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Fractions

Which of the following fractions is the greatest?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The trick to this problem is to see that three of the choices have the numerator and denominator 3 units apart. The other two choices can be made three units apart as well- multiply both  and  by  to get them to be  and , respectively.

 

The trick is that once all fractions are the same units apart in denominator and numerator, the biggest number is the largest fraction.

Example Question #3 : How To Order Fractions From Least To Greatest Or From Greatest To Least

Order the following from least to greatest: three-fifths, seven-eighths, 0.5, sixteen-eighteenths, 97%, 17-fifths.

Possible Answers:

, three-fifths, seven-eighths, sixteen-eighteenths, -fifths,

, three-fifths, seven-eighths, sixteen-eighteenths, , -fifths

, , three-fifths, seven-eighths, sixteen-eighteenths, -fifths

three-fifths, , ,  seven-eighths, sixteen-eighteenths, -fifths

, three-fifths, sixteen-eighteenths, seven-eighths, -fifths

Correct answer:

, three-fifths, seven-eighths, sixteen-eighteenths, , -fifths

Explanation:

We need to order: three fifths, seven eights, 0.5, sixteen eighteenths, 97%, seventeen fifths.

Let us re-write each as a fraction: , , , , , and . We can now easily order these:

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