Which star size is larger: 3/16 inch or 5/16 inch?

Which star size is larger: 3/16 inch or 5/16 inch?

• A. 3/16"
• B. 5/16"
• C. 1/8"
• D. 1/4"

Answer: (B)

When comparing fractions that share the same denominator, the larger numerator means the larger value. Here both sizes are in sixteenths of an inch, so the numbers to compare are 3 and 5. Since 5 is bigger than 3, 5/16 inch is larger than 3/16 inch. (As a quick check, 3/16 equals 0.1875 inch and 5/16 equals 0.3125 inch.) Therefore, the larger size is five sixteenths of an inch.

When comparing fractions that share the same denominator, the larger numerator means the larger value. Here both sizes are in sixteenths of an inch, so the numbers to compare are 3 and 5. Since 5 is bigger than 3, 5/16 inch is larger than 3/16 inch. (As a quick check, 3/16 equals 0.1875 inch and 5/16 equals 0.3125 inch.) Therefore, the larger size is five sixteenths of an inch.