Comparing and Ordering

Fraction
Comparing Fractions with the same
denominators The greater the

3< 4
numerator the
greater the
fraction.

5 5
Comparing unlike fractions with
the same numerators The smaller the
denominator the
greater the

5 5
fraction.

>
7 9
Comparing unlike fractions

3 2
Let’s use cross
multiplication!

>
4 5
Comparing unlike fractions
The fraction with the greater/bigger product
above has the greater/bigger value.
15 > 8

3 2
>
4 5
Fractions can be compared more easily by
making the denominators the same.
Find the common denominator

Multiply fractions to make the denominators the same

Compare the numerators. If the numerator is bigger

then the fraction is bigger.
EXAMPLE
Compare these fractions ：
Common
Make denominator ： 8 and
denominator 3 > 5 12 both go into 24
s the same ： 8 12
𝟑 𝟐
× ×
𝟑 𝟐

8 needs to >
be multiplied 9 10
by 3 24 24
12 needs to
Compare numerators ：
be multiplied
10 is bigger than 9
by 2
therefore 5/12 is bigger
than 3/8
EXAMPLE
Compare these fractions ：

Make
denominators Common
8 5
the same ：
9 > 6
denominator ： 9 and 6
both go into 18

𝟐 𝟑
× ×
𝟐 𝟑

16 15
9 needs to
be multiplied 18
> 18
by 2
Compare numerators ：
6 needs to 16 is bigger than 15
be multiplied therefore 8/9 is bigger
by 3 than 5/6
Let’s Compare!

9 11
<
15 15
Let’s Compare!

7 7
<
13 9
Let’s Compare!

8 5
>
9 7
 Comparing & Ordering Fractions
Ordering Fractions
Example 3: Order the fractions from least to greatest:
3/4, 2/5, 5/8, 1/2.
L CD
FIND THE
 Comparing & Ordering Fractions
Ordering Fractions
Example 3: Order the fractions from least to greatest:
E L C D 3/4, 2/5, 5/8, 1/2.
TH
FIND
4: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,
44
 Comparing & Ordering Fractions
Ordering Fractions
Example 3: Order the fractions from least to greatest:
3/4, 2/5, 5/8, 1/2.
L CD
FIND THE
4: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,
44
5: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45
 Comparing & Ordering Fractions
Ordering Fractions
Example 3: Order the fractions from least to greatest:
3/4, 2/5, 5/8, 1/2.
THE LC D
FIND
4: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,
44
5: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45
8: 8, 16, 24, 32, 40
 Comparing & Ordering Fractions
Ordering Fractions
Example 3: Order the fractions from least to greatest:
H E L C D 3/4, 2/5, 5/8, 1/2.
FIND T
4: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44
5: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45
8: 8, 16, 24, 32, 40
2: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22,
24,
26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42
 Comparing & Ordering Fractions
Ordering Fractions
Example 3: Order the fractions from least to greatest:

THE L CD 3/4, 2/5, 5/8, 1/2.

FIND
4: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44
5: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45
8: 8, 16, 24, 32, 40
2: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24,
26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42
 Comparing & Ordering Fractions
Ordering Fractions
Example 3: Order the fractions from least to greatest:
3/4, 2/5, 5/8, 1/2.

= 40
LCD
3 5
4 8
2 1
5 2
 Comparing & Ordering Fractions
Ordering Fractions
Example 3: Order the fractions from least to greatest:
3/4, 2/5, 5/8, 1/2.

D = 4 0
LC
3 × 10 30 5 ×5 25
4 10 40 8 5 40
2 ×8 16 1 × 20 20
5 8 40 2 20 40
 Comparing & Ordering Fractions
Ordering Fractions
Example 3: Order the fractions from least to greatest:
3/4, 2/5, 5/8, 1/2.

2 1 5 3
5 , 2 , 8 , 4