What are the rules for comparing fractions?
There are two rules for comparing fractions: 1) The fraction with the larger numerator is greater. 2) The fraction with the larger denominator is greater.
Students who are successful at this have already generalized the rule: fractions greater than 1 have numerators larger than their denominators; those that are less than 1 have numerators smaller than their denominators; the rest are equal to 1.
There are two main ways to compare fractions: using decimals, or using the same denominator.
As you saw, if two or more fractions have the same denominator, you can compare them by looking at their numerators. As you can see below, 3/4 is larger than 1/4. The larger the numerator, the larger the fraction.
The mathematical golden rule states that, for any fraction, both numerator and denominator may be multiplied by the same number without changing the fraction's value.
The trick to Remember Greater Than Less Than Sign:
The large opening always points to the greater value, and the smaller end, the tip, toward the smaller value. For examples: 3 > 2: Three is greater than two, so the large opening of the symbol faces three and the little point faces the two.
- Explain that number lines can help to compare fractions. Have students look at their number lines and point to the beginning point, the ending point, and the fractions in between. ...
- Use the number line to solve a story problem they can relate to. ...
- Prompt with follow-up questions. ...
- Practice.
Look at the denominator (If the numerator is less than half of the denominator, then the fraction is less than one-half. If the numerator is greater than half of the denominator, then the fraction is greater than one-half.)
If the numbers are arranged from the greatest to the least, then it is called descending order.
Fractions with the same denominators are divided into the same number of equal parts. To compare fractions with the same denominators, just compare their numerators!
What is the descending order of fractions?
To arrange all fractions in descending order, we have to convert them into like terms firs and then the fraction with the biggest numerator is the largest fraction. Descending order means arranging the fractions from the largest to the smallest.
To order a set of fractions from smallest to largest, first rewrite all of the fractions with a common denominator. Then, the fractions can be ordered by examining the numerators - the smallest numerator results in the smallest fraction, and the largest numerator results in the largest fraction.

A fraction has two parts – a numerator and a denominator. Any arithmetic operation such as addition or subtraction involving two or more fractions is possible if the denominators of both fractions are the same. This is known as the common denominator.
A fraction can be simplified if the top and bottom numbers can both be divided by the same number, without leaving a remainder. If the top number is larger than the bottom number, and neither number can be divided by the same number, divide the top number by the bottom number.
Fraction Rule of Division
Here, is an example of the Division of fractions: Suppose we have to divide 3/2 by 5/4. Step 1: Changing the sign to multiplication from division and writing the reciprocal of the second term [÷5/4 =× 4/5]. Step 2: Multiplying the first with the reciprocal of the second fraction.
If the numerator is the same as the denominator, the value of the fraction becomes 1. For example, if the fraction is 45⁄45 , then its value will be 1.
The reciprocal of a number is this fraction flipped upside down. In other words, the reciprocal has the original fraction's bottom number—or denominator—on top and the top number—or numerator—on the bottom. So the reciprocal of 6 is 1/6 because 6 = 6/1 and 1/6 is the inverse of 6/1.
The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others as one wants to be treated. Various expressions of this rule can be found in the tenets of most religions and creeds through the ages. It can be considered an ethic of reciprocity in some religions, although different religions treat it differently.
How much is 93 more than 47 ? Answer: 140.
Many teachers use the Alligator Method analogy to teach greater than and less than. They will draw an Alligator mouth on the greater than and less than signs (just adding teeth). Use the same philosophy as before: just like you, the alligator is going to want to eat more.
What are the different types of comparing fractions?
There are two rules for comparing fractions: 1) The fraction with the larger numerator is greater. 2) The fraction with the larger denominator is greater.
What does Comparing Fractions Mean? Comparing fractions means comparing the given fractions in order to tell if one fraction is less than, greater than, or equal to the other fraction. Like whole numbers, we can compare fractions using the same symbols: <,> and =.
Paper Folding: Concretely represent a fraction as part of a larger whole. Tape Diagrams and Circle Diagrams: Connect the concrete to the visual with these fluency-building fraction activities. Area Models: Help students to visualize multiplication of fractions.
Students can compare area models to compare fractions either by using physical fraction manipulatives or by drawing pictures. In an area model, the model that represents the larger area is the larger fraction. Students can use number lines to compare fractions by plotting the points on one or on two number lines.
There are 7 kinds of fractions; Proper Fractions, Improper Fractions, Mixed Fractions, Like Fractions, Unit Fractions, Equivalent Fractions and Same Numerator Fractions.
To find an equivalent fraction, you multiply the numerator and the denominator by the same number. In our example, we need to make 2/3 and 4/5 both have a denominator of 15. We can multiply 2/3 by 5/5 and 4/5 by 3/3 to find equivalent fractions with denominators of 15.
References
- https://elementarymath.edc.org/mindset/fractions-greater-than-less-than-and-equal-to-1/
- https://study.com/academy/lesson/comparing-fractions-with-unlike-denominators.html
- https://mindfinity.com/greater-than-less-than-3-ways-to-teach-it/
- https://www.vedantu.com/maths/fraction-rules
- https://www.corelearn.com/teaching-fractions/
- https://www.nwcg.gov/course/ffm/back-to-the-basics/110-simplifying-fractions
- https://www.splashlearn.com/math-vocabulary/addition/common-denominator
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- https://www.cuemath.com/numbers/comparing-fractions/
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- https://www.vedantu.com/maths/types-of-fraction
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- https://www.splashlearn.com/math-vocabulary/division/numerator
- https://byjus.com/least-to-greatest-calculator/
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- https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/4344453/how-much-is-93-more-than-47
- https://createteachshare.com/2019/02/comparing-fractions-one-half.html
- https://www.arlingtonschools.org/cms/lib/NY02215626/Centricity/Domain/25/Strategies-for-Comparing-Fractions.pdf
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- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Rule
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