Video: Easy Way to Compare Fractions

Easy Way to Compare Fractions

When it comes to comparing fractions, some methods are easier and more direct than others. Learn about an easy way to compare fractions with help from a mathematician and instructor in this free video clip.

Video Transcript

Hi, my name's Marija and I'm a mathematician and today I'm going to teach you an easy way to compare fractions. So, if you're comparing two fractions such as two thirds and four fifths and you want to know which one is bigger. The very simple way to do it is to take this denominator and multiply it by this numerator, so five times two is 10. I'm going to write that product on top of this fraction and then do the same thing with the other denominator and numerator, so three times four is twelve, and I'm going to write that product on top of this fraction. Now all I have to do is look at my products, 10 and 12. Which one is bigger? 12 is. That means that four fifths is the greater fraction. So if you had to fill in a little greater than or equal to sign, I'm sorry, less than sign, I would put four fifths is greater than two thirds, and that's it. We'll do another example. Let's say I had four sevenths and five ninths, so again, I'm just cross multiplying. So 9 times 4, the product is 36. I'm going to write it up here, and 7 times 5, the product is 35. So, 36 is greater than 35. That means that four sevenths is greater than five ninths, and that's all there is to it. I just showed you an easy way to compare fractions.

Easy Way to Compare Fractions

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