ORDERING DISSIMILAR

GRADE V FRACTIONS
ORDERING DISSIMILAR FRACTIONS

Objective: Order dissimilar fractions written in different forms

from least to greatest and vice versa.

REVIEW

Arrange the following fractions from least to greatest. Write your answer on ¼ sheet of pad
paper.

6 5 7
1) , ,
16 16 16
2 1 3
2) , ,
3 3 3
5 8 4
3) , ,
7 7 7
8 5 3
4) , ,
9 9 9
2 3 1
5) , ,
6 6 6

STUDY AND LEARN

Look closely at the fraction bars below.

3
4
3
8

5
6

1
 5
Which is the longest shaded part? (
)
6
3 3 3
Which is longer between and ? ( )
4 8 4

Let us arrange the fractions from least to greatest or vice versa by merely looking at the
fraction bars.

3 3 5
, , (least to greatest)
8 4 6
5 3 3
, , (greatest to least)
6 4 8

You can use the LCD to order fractions. Let’s use the same set of fractions.

3 3 5
Arrange , and from least to greatest.
4 8 6

Find the LCD by listing the multiples of 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24

the denominator. 8, 16, 24
6, 12, 18, 24

Use the denominator 24 to find 3 3x6 18 Why did we multiply

equivalent fractions.  
4 4 x6 24 3 6
by ? 24 is the
4 6
3 3 x 3 9 6th multiple of 4.
 
8 8 x 3 24

5 5 x 4 20
 
6 6 x 4 24

3 4
How about the next two fractions? Why do we multiply them by and , respectively?
3 4

Arrange the equivalent fractions 9 18 20

according to their numerators.  
24 24 24

3 3 5
So, from least to greatest the fractions are: , , .
8 4 6

2
 5 3 3
From greatest to least the fractions are , , .
6 4 8

3
 TRY THESE

Consider the following fractions:

3 2 5 1
, , ,
4 3 6 2

1.) List the multiples of the denominators. 2, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___
Encircle the least common multiple. 3, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___
4, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___
6, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___

2.) Use the LCD to find equivalent 1

fractions. x =
2

3
x =
4

2
x =
3

5
x =
6

3.) Arrange the equivalent fractions ___, ___, ___, ___

according to their numerators.

WRAP UP

To arrange dissimilar fractions:

 Find the Least Common Denominator (LCD) for the given

set of fractions.
 Use the LCD to find equivalent fractions.

4
 Arrange the equivalent fractions according to their
numerator.

5
 ON YOUR OWN

A. Arrange the following set of fractions from least to greatest. Write your answers in
your notebook.

3 1 2 7 3 1 1
1) , , 2) , , ,
6 9 3 8 4 2 3

B. Arrange the following fractions in descending order. Write your answers in your
notebook.

1 3 7 1 6 1 9 2 3 5 1
1) , , 2) , , , 3) , , ,
2 5 8 4 8 3 10 3 4 7 2