Which of the following fractions is closest to 1/2?

Brent@GMATPrepNow: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 16207; Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm; Location: Vancouver, BC; Thanked: 5254 times; Followed by:1268 members; GMAT Score:770

Re: Which of the following fractions is closest to 1/2?

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Fri Mar 27, 2020 9:12 am

BTGModeratorVI wrote: ↑
Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:21 am
Which of the following fractions is closest to 1/2?

A) 4/7
B) 5/9
C) 6/11
D) 7/13
E) 9/16

Answer: D
Source: Official Guide

Let's check the answer choices...

A) 4/7
3.5/7 = 1/2. So, 4/7 is 0.5/7 away from 1/2
Since 0.5/7 = 1/14, we can say that 4/7 is 1/14 away from 1/2

B) 5/9
4.5/9 = 1/2. So, 5/9 is 0.5/9 away from 1/2
Since 0.5/9 = 1/18, we can say that 5/9 is 1/18 away from 1/2

C) 6/11
Using the same logic, we can say that 6/11 is 1/22 away from 1/2

D) 7/13
Likewise, 7/13 is 1/26 away from 1/2

E) 9/16
And 9/16 is 1/16 away from 1/2

Of the BLUE fractions, 1/26 is the SMALLEST
So, the correct answer is D

Cheers,
Brent

Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com

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Scott@TargetTestPrep: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 8086; Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:56 am; Location: Los Angeles, CA; Thanked: 43 times; Followed by:29 members

Re: Which of the following fractions is closest to 1/2?

by Scott@TargetTestPrep » Sun Mar 29, 2020 4:06 am

BTGModeratorVI wrote: ↑
Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:21 am
Which of the following fractions is closest to 1/2?

A) 4/7
B) 5/9
C) 6/11
D) 7/13
E) 9/16

Answer: D
Source: Official Guide

We can subtract each number from 1/2. The smallest difference in absolute value will be the one closest to 1/2.

A. 1/2 - 4/7 = 7/14 - 8/14 = -1/14

B. 1/2 - 5/9 = 9/18 - 10/18 = -1/18

C. 1/2 - 6/11 = 11/22 - 12/22 = -1/22

D. 1/2 - 7/13 = 13/26 - 14/26 = -1/26

E. 1/2 - 9/16 = 8/16 - 9/16 = -1/16

We see that -1/26 has the smallest absolute value; therefore, 7/13 is closest to 1/2.

Answer: D

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