Why are these 2 fractions equal?

Question

Right now I'm learning about equivalent fractions but my teacher didn't explain this lesson well. In my homework I have a problem that says: Determine which of the following pairs are equal. And the numbers are: 882/552 and 147/91.

I've tried to solve it multiple times and all I keep getting is that the fractions are not equal. However, my book says that they are equal. Can someone please explain why they are equal or how to solve them corrently?

SumDude · Answer

establish common denominators, and then compare the numerators.

sparrow · Answer

They are not equal, unless you have a typo on the numbers.
Take 882 and divide by 147. It equals 6.
Now take 552, and divide by 6. It equals 92,
To be equal, it should have been equal to 91.
The way to reduce a fraction to an equivalent fraction is to
divide the top number and the bottom number by the SAME number.
In this case, we divided both by 6.

ignoramus · Answer

882 . . . . . . . . 2 x 3 x 147
----- . . . = . . . --------------- , so that CANNOT be equal to 147/91.
552 . . . . . . . . 2 x 3 x 92

I would suspect a misprint.  Probably they meant to put 147/92 (but that is just a guess.)

? · Answer

Not Equal

882/552 reduces to 147/92
147/92 is not equal to 147/91

? · Answer

Not equal.  Divide them both out.  first = 1.568  second = 1.615.
Peace.

Anonymous · Answer

You are right. They are not exactly equal.

If you turn them into decimals:
882/552 = 1.5978
147/91 = 1.61538

However, if you take them to just 1 decimal place, both equal 1.6

Why are these 2 fractions equal?

6 Answers