Comparing like fractions

Comparing like fractions

To compare like fractions, check the numerators of the given fractions.

Example 6.9

Compare the shaded and unshaded part in the following figure.

Solution

A strip is divided into 7 equal parts. It means that each part represent 1/7

To coloured part is 3/7 = 1/7 + 1/7 +1/7

The uncoloured part is 4 /7 = 1/7 + 1/7 +1/7 +1/7

The coloured part is less than the uncoloured part.

This tells us that 3/7 is less than 4/7

This is written as 3/7 < 4/7

Example 6.10

Compare the different shaded parts in the following figure.

Solution

This strip is divided into 5 equal parts. 2 out of 5 parts have one colour and 1 has another colour.

The fraction of blue coloured pard = 2/5

The fraction of yellow coloured part = 1/5

Comparing the numerators 2 and 1, we find 2 > 1

Thereford 2/5 > 1/5

In like fractions, the fraction with the greater numerator is the greater fraction.