Ben’s claim that 7 9/100 must be less than 7 2/10 isn’t entirely accurate. While it is true that 9 hundredths is less than 2 tenths, we need to compare the two fractions as whole numbers to make a proper comparison.
First, let’s break down the two numbers:
- 7 9/100 = 7 + 0.09 = 7.09
- 7 2/10 = 7 + 0.2 = 7.2
Now, we can compare 7.09 and 7.2 directly.
Since 7.09 is indeed less than 7.2, Ben is correct in stating that 7 9/100 is less than 7 2/10. However, the reasoning based solely on comparing the fractional parts (hundredths vs tenths) can be misleading. It’s important to understand how these parts contribute to the overall value of the numbers.
In summary, while Ben’s conclusion is correct, the justification regarding hundredths and tenths is somewhat simplistic. It’s always better to convert fractions to decimal form for clearer comparisons.