Question

Amanda was given three numbers: 8,5, and 1. She needs to use two ofthese numbers to make a fraction.Can she make a fraction that isgreater than four-fifths?

Answer 1

We will have the following:

Amanda will be able to construct the following fractions:

$\mleft\lbrace\frac{1}{8},\frac{1}{5},\frac{8}{5},\frac{5}{8},\frac{8}{1},\frac{5}{1}\mright\rbrace$

From these, the fractions that are greater than 4/5 are:

$\mleft\lbrace\frac{8}{5},\frac{8}{1},\frac{5}{1}\mright\rbrace$

So, yes; Amanda will be able to make a fraction that is greater than 4/5.

***Explanation***

We are trying to find a fraction with a value greater than 4/5, that is:

$\frac{4}{5}=0.8$

So, a fraction that has a value greater than 0.8.

From the values given, when we solve for the selected fractions we will obtain:

$\begin{cases}\frac{8}{5}=1.6 \\ \\ \frac{8}{1}=8 \\ \\ \frac{5}{1}=5\end{cases}$

All these values are greater than 0.8 and thus the fractions which represent them are greater than 4/5.