Question

Select the lesser of the two given numbers.
negative five halves
​, negative StartFraction 21 Over 8 EndFraction
Question content area bottom
Part 1
Which is the lesser of the two​ numbers?

Answer 1

To compare the two numbers, we can represent them as fractions:

1. **Negative five halves**:
\[
-\frac{5}{2}
\]

2. **Negative twenty-one eighths**:
\[
-\frac{21}{8}
\]

Next, we convert \(-\frac{5}{2}\) to a fraction with a denominator of 8 to compare them directly:

\[
-\frac{5}{2} = -\frac{5 \cdot 4}{2 \cdot 4} = -\frac{20}{8}
\]

Now we have:

- \(-\frac{20}{8}\)
- \(-\frac{21}{8}\)

Now, we compare \(-\frac{20}{8}\) with \(-\frac{21}{8}\). Since both fractions have the same denominator, we can just compare the numerators:

- \(-20\) (from \(-\frac{20}{8}\))
- \(-21\) (from \(-\frac{21}{8}\))

Since \(-21\) is less than \(-20\), we can conclude that:

\[
-\frac{21}{8} < -\frac{20}{8}
\]

**Thus, the lesser of the two numbers is \(-\frac{21}{8}\)**.