CHAPTER – 4

COMPARISON OF FRACTIONS
COMPARISON OF FRACTIONS: 64 32 16 8 1
Sol. = = = ~
328 164 82 41 5
Comparison of fractions will be required in a number of 28 14 7 1
problems in Data Interpretation and Quantitative Ability. = = ~
152 76 38 5.5
Let us study some of the common methods of identifying
36 18 9 1 49 7 1
the largest or smallest of a given set of fractions. = = ~ = =
176 88 44 5 196 28 4
Type 1: As all the numerators are 1 and the least
49
denominator is 4, the fraction is the largest.
When the numerators are same and the denominators are 196
different, the fraction with the largest denominator is the
smallest. Eg.5 Which of the following fractions is the largest?
71 214 429
Eg.1 Which of the following fractions is the smallest? , ,
181 519 1141
3 3 3 3
, , ,
5 7 13 8 71 71 x 6 426
Sol. = =
Sol. 13 is the largest denominator, hence 3/13 is the 181 181 x 6 1086
smallest fraction. 5 is the smallest denominator, 214 214 x 2 428
= =
hence 3/5 is the largest fraction. 519 519 x 2 1038

Type 2:
The numerators are now almost equal
(426, 428 and 429). The smallest denominator is
When the numerators are different and the denominators
1038.
are same, the fraction with the largest numerator is the
Hence the largest fraction must be
largest.
428 214
i.e.
Eg.2 Which of the following fractions is the smallest? 1038 519
7 9 4 11
, , , Type 5:
5 5 5 5
A: For a fraction less than 1.
Sol. As 4 is the smallest numerator, the fraction 4/5 is
the smallest. If the difference between the numerator and the
As 11 is the largest numerator, the fraction 11/5 denominator is same then the fraction with the larger
is the largest. values of numerator and denominator will be the largest.

Type 3: Eg.6 Which of the following fractions is the largest.

31 23 17 35 13
The fraction with the largest numerator and the smallest , , , ,
37 29 23 41 19
denominator is the largest.
Sol. The difference between the numerator and the
Eg.3 Which of the following fractions is the largest? denominator of each fraction is 6. ∴ The fraction
19 24 17 21 23
, , , , with the larger numerals i.e., 35/41 is the greatest
16 11 13 14 15 and the fraction with the smallest numerals i.e.,
13/19 is the smallest.
Sol. As 24 is the largest numerator and 11 is the
24 B: For a fraction greater than 1.
smallest denominator, is the largest fraction.
11
If the difference between the numerator and denominator
is same, then the fraction with the smaller values will be
Type 4: the largest.

When the numerators of two fractions are unequal, we try Eg.7 Which of the following fraction is largest?
and equate them by suitably cancelling factors or by 31 43 57 27 29
suitably multiplying the numerators. Thereafter we , , , ,
27 39 53 23 25
compare the denominators as in Type 1.
Sol. As the difference between the numerator and the
Eg.4 Which of the following fractions is the largest?
denominator is same, the fraction with the
64 28 36 49
, , , 27
328 152 176 196 smallest values i.e., is the largest.
23
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Eg.8 Which of the following fractions is the largest? greater than the increase in the denominator,
15 23 31 11 31 11
, , , > .
17 29 34 15 34 15
31
Sol. Comparing fractions So, is the largest fraction.
34
15 23 We can also compare fractions as follows.
and
17 29 For example, to compare 5/13 and 9/20 make the
The numerator of the fraction has increased from numerator 1 for all the fractions by approximately
8 dividing the denominator with the respective
15 to 23 i.e., i.e. a little more than 50%. The numerator (upto first decimal place).
15
denominator of the fraction has increased from 5 1 1 1
∴ = and ≅
17 to 29 i.e. 12/17 i.e. well over 50%. As the 13 2.6 20 2.2
percentage increase in the numerator is less 1 1
than the percentage increase in the denominator, Now, clearly < (from rule (ii) above)
2.6 2.2
15 23 15
the fraction > . Now compare with 5 9
17 29 17 ⇒ <
13 20
31
.
34 Another method of comparing fractions is by
As the change in the numerator is more than comparing the percentage changes in
double (15 to 31), and the change in the denominators and numerators. The important
denominator is exactly double, the fraction points to remember are that when two fractions
15 31 are compared, if the percentage increase in the
< .
17 34 numerator is more than the percentage increase
11 31 in the denominator (where the first fraction is
Now compare and . taken as reference), then the second fraction is
15 34
greater than the first fraction. Conversely, if the
The numerator has almost tripled from 11 to 31
percentage increase in the denominator is
whereas the denominator has just over doubled
greater than that in the numerator, then the
from 15 to 34. Since the increase in numerator is
second fraction is smaller than the first.

Exercise – 4(a) Time: 45 min.

Questions 1 to 15: Find the largest of the following
fractions 33 44 58 35
10. , , ,
100 120 148 80
17 27 37 47
1. , , , 25 135 173 69
23 33 43 53 11. , , ,
35 189 215 104
11 18 33 48
2. , , , 27 34 34 28 17
24 26 52 62 12. , , , ,
10 13 15 13 11
192 189 146 261
3. , , , 1 12 5 39 76
21 19 17 28 13. , , , ,
9 113 42 294 635

2 14 23 63 19
4. , , , , 7 12 15 9 18
9 16 21 69 17 14. , , , ,
8 13 19 11 19
9 63 78 24 33
5. , , , , 38 50 63 49 91
26 181 521 89 128 15. , , ,
71 81 117 87 183
111 41 4 52 31
6. , , , , Questions 16 to 23: Find the smallest among the
190 76 9 87 55 following fractions.

55 12 29 37 8 20 3 9 1
7. , , , , 16. , , ,
98 23 57 72 15 81 8 43 4

6 19 13 21 15 31 24 42 37 31
8. , , , , 17. , , , ,
35 98 69 113 79 17 19 27 22 29

18 36 14 7 18 4 72 6 99
9. , , , 18. , , , ,
40 78 32 15 89 13 203 29 403
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 13 29 5 54 33 73 101 81 211 75
19. , , , , 32. a = ;b = ;c = ;d = ;e =
15 41 6 71 45 124 187 169 243 182
Questions 33 to 39: Arrange in descending order
8 15 23 55 36
20. , , , ,
19 34 56 11 77 26 89 11 101
33. , , ,
141 343 68 659
47 15 8 26 35
21. , , , ,
137 49 25 73 99 29 34 21 22
34. , , ,
35 42 35 28
1 18 4 19 8 5 3
22. , , , 35. (a) (b) (c)
12 218 50 230 57 43 26
21 14
(d) (e)
18 20 15 18 121 117
23. , , ,
484 500 408 360
83 68 13 79
Questions 24 to 32: Arrange in ascending order 36. , , ,
95 99 56 104

18 24 29 33
24. , , , 18 24 29 30 27
63 67 73 85 37. a = ;b = ;c = ;d = ;e =
11 17 22 23 20

13 15 16 19
25. , , , 221 341 436 286 368
15 17 18 21 38. , , , ,
39 37 47 35 49

4 88 26 13 25 17 19 11
26. (a) (b) (c) 39. , , , ,
11 199 133 86 79 93 101 92
49 37
(d) (e)
158 113 40. Find the fourth largest among the following fractions?
63 93 101 40 131
, , , ,
11 44 101 103 188 233 63 238
27. (a) (b) (c)
17 81 180
4 15 41. Find the third largest among the following fractions.
(d) (e) 162 349 591 801 1037
7 29 , , , ,
17 43 51 70 85
12 29 55
28. (a) (b) (c) 42. Find the fourth largest among the following fractions?
17 37 81
8 9 25 30 18
63 5 , , , ,
(d) (e) 17 19 51 61 37
97 8
43. What is the sum of the largest and the smallest of the
2 9 11 following fractions?
29. (a) (b) (c)
9 47 56 5 17 7 13 21
19 29 , , , ,
(d) (e) 11 28 15 30 45
88 119
44. What are the second largest and the third largest of
1 4 22 48 the following fractions?
30. , , ,
25 103 554 208 85 127 348 101 131
, , , ,
191 391 1456 563 1561
56 40 24 136
31. , , , 45. Which of the following fractions has a value which lies
99 98 42 154
exactly in the middle?
121 189 179 136 121
, , ,
367 523 343 409 179

Exercise – 4(b) Time: 45 min.

Questions 1 to 10: Arrange the following fractions in 17 21 25 32
ascending order. 2. , , ,
19 23 31 39

23 31 39 47 17 18 23 47 61
1. , , , 3. , , , ,
35 43 55 67 25 27 33 59 71

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 19 29 69 49 88 123 76 13 105
4. , , , 23. , , , ,
23 35 78 57 95 241 95 18 123

135 287 331 223 229 62 523 36 283 1265

5. a= ;b = ;c = ;d = ;e = 24. , , , ,
23 26 47 35 28 49 476 29 203 942
23 33 35 37 7
6. a= ;b = ;c = ;d = ;e = Questions 25 to 37: Find the smallest of the following.
29 40 43 45 10

5 23 51 43 73
11 12 10 1 25. , , , ,
7. a= ;b = ;c = ;d = 6 37 49 54 82
120 130 108 11

386 28 212 2 84
17 12 18 22 36 26. , , , ,
8. , , , 495 93 613 5 253
86 59 77 91 121

85 135 23 812 29
13 15 17 11 19 27. , , , ,
9. , , , , 48 123 15 795 23
37 43 31 45 29

85 23 13 212 63
19 17 15 21 35 28. , , , ,
10. , , , 96 88 45 841 219
21 19 17 23 37

Questions 11 to 16: Arrange in descending order 7 21 34 43 101

29. , , , ,
11 37 71 87 206
12 34 78 45
11. , , ,
21 43 87 54 52 39 49 25
30. , , ,
25 17 24 12
19 73 43 17
12. , , ,
24 91 57 25 80 95 76 101 58
31. , , , ,
181 201 199 221 171
21 81 23 14 24
13. , , , ,
32 102 37 23 37 31 21 30 27 41
32. , , , ,
87 77 91 71 96
9 45 65 99
14. , , ,
12 51 71 122 33.
45 231 28 49 24
, , , ,
97 469 63 99 51
15 25 31 37 39
15. , , , ,
19 29 35 38 46 212 26 79 82 512
34. , , , ,
843 103 314 271 1019
29 21 37 87 69
16. , , , ,
86 80 91 143 181 45 63 23 98 16
35. , , , ,
88 110 47 195 19
Questions 17 to 24: Find the largest of the following.
485 213 90 47 78
231 352 453 759 36. , , , ,
17. , , , 381 120 83 25 41
349 478 584 894
11 14 33 15
14 18 12 13 11 37. , , ,
18. , , , , 23 29 70 32
16 19 17 15 18
38. Which of the following fractions is the third largest?
895 23 88 313 439 5 7 10 9 11
19. , , , , , , , ,
428 12 46 150 265 6 9 13 10 10

405 85 92 146 212 39. Which of the following fractions is the fourth largest?
20. , , , ,
312 58 85 109 105 7 17 33 26 31
, , , ,
15 30 61 37 46
74 167 334 1011 712
21. , , , ,
151 426 537 1597 1477 40. Find the fourth largest among the following fractions.
162 123 171 137 147
17 23 27 25 26 , , , ,
22. , , , , 314 248 337 291 293
9 11 14 12 13

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41. Find the third largest among the following fractions. Questions 44 and 45: Find the largest and the smallest
221 274 643 862 1021 of the following fractions.
, , , ,
23 29 51 75 90
11 32 43 55 17
44. , , , ,
42. Which of the following has the fourth largest value? 41 67 78 94 42
34 35 4 68 73
, , , ,
23 24 3 35 38 21 17 21 24 11
45. , , , ,
67 39 43 57 37
43. Which of the following fractions is the third largest?
15 11 13 15 18
, , , ,
87 85 96 73 95

Key

Exercise – 4(a)

47 50 40 56 24 136
1. 15. 31. , , ,
53 81 98 99 42 154
48
9
2. 16. 75 81 101 73 211
43 32. , , ,
62 182 169 187 124 243
189 24
3. 17. 89 26 11 101
19 19 33. , , ,
343 141 68 659
19 18
4. 18. 29 34 22 21
17 89 34. , , ,
35 42 28 35
63 29
5. 19. 35. d, a, e, b, c
181 41
83 79 68 13
52 23 36. , , ,
6. 20. 95 104 99 56
87 56
18 24 27 29 30
55 15 37. , , , ,
7. 21. 11 17 20 22 23
98 49
19 436 341 286 368 221
8. 4 38. , , , ,
98 22. 47 37 35 49 39
50
7 25 19 17 13 11
9. 15 39. , , , ,
15 23. 79 101 93 86 92
408
35 93
10. 18 24 33 29 40.
80 24. , , , 188
63 67 85 73
173 801
11. 41.
215 13 15 16 19 70
25. , , ,
15 17 18 21
27 9
12. 42.
10 26. c, d, e, a, b 19

39 27. e, b, c, d, a 17
13. 43. 1
294 420
28. e, d, c, a b
18 127 348
14. 29. b, c, d, a, e 44. and
19 391 1456
4 22 1 48
30. , , , 189
103 554 25 208 45.
523

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 Exercise – 4(b)

23 47 39 31
1. , , ,
35 67 55 43 18 212
18. 34.
19 843
25 32 17 21
2. < < <
31 39 19 23 895 16
19. 35. Largest =
428 19
18 17 23 47 61 23
3. , , , , Smallest =
27 25 33 59 71 212 47
20.
105
19 29 49 69 78
4. , , , 1011 36. Largest =
23 35 57 78 21. 41
1597 90
Smallest =
5. a, d, c, e, b 83
23
22.
6. e, a, c, d, b 11 15
37.
32
7. d, a, b, c 88
23.
95 5
17 12 18 22 36 38.
8. < < < < 6
86 59 77 91 121 283
24.
203 33
11 15 13 17 19 39.
9. < < < < 61
45 43 37 31 29
25. 23/37
123
15 17 19 21 35 40.
10. , , , 28 248
17 19 21 23 37 26.
93
78 45 34 12 1021
11. , , , 812
41.
87 54 43 21 27. 90
795
73 19 43 17 35
12. > > > 212 42.
91 24 57 25 28. 24
841
81 21 24 23 14 15
13. , , , , 34 43.
102 32 37 37 23 29. 87
71

65 45 99 9 55 11
14. , , , 49 44. largest smallest
30 94 41
71 51 122 12 24

58 21 11
37 31 25 39 15 31. 45. largest = , smallest =
15. , , , , 171 43 37
38 35 29 46 19
21
87 37 69 29 21 32.
16. , , , , 77
143 91 181 86 80 28
33.
63
17. 759/894

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