Question

which of the following is the smallest rational number?
1) [5/11]
2) [-8/11]
3)[-7/-11]
4)[2/11]​

Answer 1

2) Option is correct .

Let us see how...

1) 5 / 11

2) -8 / 11

3) -7 / -11 = 7 / 11

4) 2 / 11

Now always remember one thing . In fractions , the smaller number u will have in numerator your overall value will get smaller for positive numbers . But for negative cases it will be opposite . Smaller the number in numerator greater the value .

So , among all the positive fractions your arrangement of numbers would be : 2 / 11 < 5 / 11 < 7 / 11 .

But as we know we have a negative number too , so it will be the smallest among all .

And a point to be noted is that all the numbers have same denominator . But for different denominator u have to do some calculations , as it would be hard to guess .

Answer 2

Answer:

-8/11

Reason :

The no.s given above are 5/11,-8/11,-7/11,2/11,

As we can see all the no.s are having 11 as their L. C. M, therefore it is easy to differentiate between them. Since the no. s with the negative sign is smaller than the no.s with positive signs. So we will be left with -8/11 and -7/11 cause 5/11 and 2/11 are greater than that. Now we know that, according to the negative rational no. line,

the no. with greater power is smaller than the no. with smaller power. For eg:

-21 < -3

In the same way, -8/11<-7/11

Therefore, the smallest rational no. is -8/11.