Question

Question 5(a) :

How quickly can you do this? Fill appropriate sign (<, = , >):

$\frac{1}{2}\square \frac{1}{5}$

Answer 1

The given fractions $\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{5}$ are unlike fractions because they have different denominators.

When we compare two unlike fractions, we first get their equivalent fractions with a denominator which is a common multiple of the denominators of both the fractions.

The LCM of 2 and 5 is 10.

The equivalent fractions with the same denominator are :

$\frac{1}{2}=\frac{1\times 5}{2\times 5}=\frac{5}{10}$ and $\frac{1}{5}=\frac{1\times 2}{5\times 2}=\frac{2}{10}$

Now, $\frac{5}{10}>\frac{2}{10}$

$\therefore$$\frac{1}{2}>\frac{1}{5}$