Which is greater: 1/2 or 2/5?

To determine which fraction is greater between 1/2 and 2/5, it’s helpful to compare them by finding a common denominator or by converting them into decimal form.

If we convert both fractions into decimals, 1/2 equals 0.5 and 2/5 equals 0.4. By comparing these decimal values directly, it becomes evident that 0.5 is greater than 0.4.

Alternatively, if we find a common denominator for both fractions, we can convert them to have that denominator. The least common denominator of 2 and 5 is 10. When we convert:

• 1/2 becomes 5/10 (since 1 x 5 = 5 and 2 x 5 = 10).

• 2/5 becomes 4/10 (since 2 x 2 = 4 and 5 x 2 = 10).

Now, comparing 5/10 and 4/10 shows clearly that 5/10 (which is 1/2) is greater than 4/10 (which is 2/5).

Thus, the fraction 1/2 is indeed greater than 2/5, making it the correct choice