HOW TO COMPARE FRACTIONS Introducing: common denominator least common denominator like fractions unlike fractions.

Compare Fractions 1 The fractions 3/4 and 2/4 have the same denominator. Fractions with the same denominators are like fractions.

Compare Fractions 2 If denominators are the same, the fraction with the larger numerator is larger. So 3/4 is larger than 2/4 .

Compare Fractions 3 9/16 and 7/16 are like fractions. The numerator 9 in 9/16 is larger than the numerator 7 in 7/16, making 9/16 larger than 7/16 .

Compare Fractions 4 Same NUMERATOR The fractions 2/3 and 2/5 have the same numerator. The denominator 3 in the fraction 2/3 means that the unit has less parts, making the parts larger. Therefore, 2/3 is larger than 2/5 .

Compare Fractions 5 > The smaller the denominator the larger the fraction, WHEN THE NUMERATOR IS THE SAME!

Compare Fractions 6 4 X 5 = 20 Use Cross-Multiplication to compare fractions with unlike numerators AND unlike denominators.

Compare Fractions 6 4 X 5 = 20 3 X 8 = 24 Use Cross-Multiplication to compare fractions with unlike numerators AND unlike denominators.

Compare Fractions 6 4 X 5 = 20 3 X 8 = 24

Compare Fractions 7 The idea of common denominator can be used to compare unlike fractions such as 3/4 and 5/8 . You can rename one or both unlike fractions so that they will have like denominators. The denominator you will use is 8 because 8 is the smallest number that both denominators 4 and 8 will divide into. You can then rename 3/4 as 6/8 so that both fractions will have a common denominator 8. You can then compare the numerators of 6/8 and 5/8 .

Compare Fractions 13 Since the numerators are the same in 3/5 and 3/4 you can compare the fractions without finding the common denominator by looking at the denominators. Because the smaller the denominator the larger the fraction, 3/4 is larger than 3/5 .

Compare Fractions 16 5/8 is larger. It takes practice, but being able to estimate by visualizing the fraction (number sense) will help you to understand fractions better.