Which fraction is less than 1/2 a. 3/8 b. 5/8 c. 5/7 d. 9/16

You would find it much easier to compare these fractions if you'd work with a common denominator. In this problem the common denominator is 16 (actually, the LCD is 16*7, or 112, but let's continue anyway):

Then we'll be working with 8/16: a. 6/16 b. 10/16 c. 5/7 d. 9/16, instead of with 1/2 a. 3/8 b. 5/8 c. 5/7 d. 9/16.

Which fraction is less than 1/2? Ask yourself: which fraction is less than 8/16? Only (a) satisfies this: 6/16, or 3/8, is smaller than 1/2.

3/8 because half of 8 would be 4/8