In Trina's desk drawer, there are 15 paper clips and 18 rubber bands. In Kirk's office supply tray, there are 13 paper clips and 16 rubber bands. Who has a higher ratio of paper clips to rubber bands?
Trina: 15/18
Kirk: 13/16
We want common denominators to compare, so we get a greatest common factor (GCF) for 16 and 18.
Running this through our search engine, we get GCF(16, 18) = 144
For Trina, 144/18 = 8
For Kirk, 144/16 = 9
We multiply Trina's fraction, top and bottom by 8:
15 * 8 / 18 * 8
120/144
We multiply Trina's fraction, top and bottom by 8:
13 * 8 / 16 * 8
104/144
Trina has more in her numerator, so her ratio of paper clips to rubber bands is greater.
Trina: 15/18
Kirk: 13/16
We want common denominators to compare, so we get a greatest common factor (GCF) for 16 and 18.
Running this through our search engine, we get GCF(16, 18) = 144
For Trina, 144/18 = 8
For Kirk, 144/16 = 9
We multiply Trina's fraction, top and bottom by 8:
15 * 8 / 18 * 8
120/144
We multiply Trina's fraction, top and bottom by 8:
13 * 8 / 16 * 8
104/144
Trina has more in her numerator, so her ratio of paper clips to rubber bands is greater.