16. Of the numbers listed above, which number is the least? 1/3, 2/5, 1/7, 3/8
Answer: D
1/7 is the least number among the options provided.
When comparing the fractions 1/3, 2/5, 1/7, and 3/8, 1/7 has the smallest value, making it the least number among the options.
A) 2/5
2/5 is greater than 1/7. When converted to decimals, 2/5 equals 0.4, while 1/7 is approximately 0.142857, indicating that 2/5 is not the least.
B) 3/8
3/8 is also greater than 1/7. The decimal value of 3/8 is 0.375, which is higher than 1/7's approximate value of 0.142857, confirming that 3/8 is not the least.
C) 1/3
1/3 is greater than 1/7 as well. Its decimal equivalent is approximately 0.333333, which is significantly larger than 1/7, thus making it not the least.
D) 1/7
1/7 is indeed the smallest fraction in this comparison. With a decimal value of about 0.142857, it is less than all the other fractions listed.
Conclusion
1/7 is definitively the least number because it has the smallest value when compared to the other fractions. Each of the other options—2/5, 3/8, and 1/3—are greater than 1/7, reinforcing that it is the correct answer in this context.