Question

$\frac{3}{8}th$ of the total number of books on a bookshelf are science fiction books and $\frac{4}{16}$ of the total number of books are history books. Which of the following kinds of books is greater in number?

• A. History
• B. Science fiction
• C. The number of books cannot be compared.
• D. There are an equal number of both kinds of books.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Science fiction

Fraction of science fiction books $=\frac{3}{8}$
Fraction of history books $=\frac{4}{16}$
To compare the two, we need to make them equivalent fractions. To do this, we multiply the numerator and denominator by 2.
Fraction of science fiction books $=\frac{3}{8}=\frac{3\times 2}{8\times 2}=\frac{6}{16}$
$\frac{6}{16}>\frac{4}{16}$
herefore, the number of science fiction books is greater.