(A) 17/18
(B) 28/36
(C) 43/45
(D) 59/60
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
The question asks us to identify which of the given fractions, after converting them to have equal denominators, will result in a numerator that is an even number.
To compare or order fractions, a common approach is to convert them to equivalent fractions with a common denominator. The least common multiple (LCM) of the original denominators provides the smallest common denominator.
The denominators of the given fractions are 18, 36, 45, and 60.
Let's find the LCM of these denominators:
The LCM is calculated by taking the highest power of each prime factor present in any of the denominators:
LCM = \( 2^2 \times 3^2 \times 5 = 4 \times 9 \times 5 = 180 \)
Thus, the common denominator for all fractions will be 180.
Now, we will convert each fraction into an equivalent fraction with the denominator 180 and examine the parity (even or odd) of the resulting numerator.
| Fraction (Option) | Calculation to achieve Denominator 180 | Equivalent Fraction | Resulting Numerator | Parity of Numerator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (A) 17/18 | \( \frac{17}{18} \times \frac{180 \div 18}{180 \div 18} = \frac{17}{18} \times \frac{10}{10} \) | 170/180 | 170 | Even |
| (B) 28/36 | \( \frac{28}{36} \times \frac{180 \div 36}{180 \div 36} = \frac{28}{36} \times \frac{5}{5} \) | 140/180 | 140 | Even |
| (C) 43/45 | \( \frac{43}{45} \times \frac{180 \div 45}{180 \div 45} = \frac{43}{45} \times \frac{4}{4} \) | 172/180 | 172 | Even |
| (D) 59/60 | \( \frac{59}{60} \times \frac{180 \div 60}{180 \div 60} = \frac{59}{60} \times \frac{3}{3} \) | 177/180 | 177 | Odd |
The analysis shows that when the fractions are converted to have the common denominator 180:
Therefore, the fractions where the numerators will be an even number after making the denominators equal are (A), (B), and (C).