AIBU to think this maths question is wrong?

[hardheadedwoman]

Which one of the following mathematical fractions is different to the other two?

3/7
3/9
3/11

Surely they are all different? Please could anyone tell me what I am going wrong?

One can be reduced down further, the other two can't?

Yes, definitely all different. Is there an answer? Is it a trick question?

You can reduce 3/9 (to 1/3), you can't do that with the others

3/9 is different as it would normally be written as 1/3 as the lowest common denominator

The other two are already the lowest common denominator and are written the correct way

I know what I mean but I'm not great at explaining but hope that helps!

i dont know if its the right answer, but i would have said that 3/9 is different as 9 goes into 3 perfectly, but 7 and 11 dont

It’s the middle one, 3/9 can be simplified to 1/3 whereas the others can’t

Ah, yes - what ShetlandWife said! The wording is confusing though! Asking which is the odd one out would be clearer.

Is it something to do with 3/9 being 1/3 but the others are already as low as they can go?

I’m rubbish at maths but DS2 has fractions worksheets at the moment...

Oh x post with everybody.

I hope it’s not a trick question as it’s multiple choice and there are only those three choices.

Good point @ShetlandWife !!! That’s must be it

It asks which is different, it doesn't say that they are equal.
I'd say 3/9 is the odd one out because it can be simplified (to 1/3). The others can't be reduced further (as whole numbers)

3/9 is the same as 1/3 whereas the others...just are

Thank you all so much!!

I'd say it was a badly worded question, but agree with 3/9 being the odd one out as it isn't simplified. (Plus from an English point of view, it should be different from not different to).

3/9 is not expressed in the simplest terms and in an exam would not necessarily score full marks.

Definitely the 3/9 fraction as it can be simplified to 1/3. It's many, many years since I did a maths exam but remember being warned that you would lose marks if you didn't give a fraction in it's simplest form