PRE-ALGEBRA

Lesson 39 of 171

Students learn to compare fractions with the same denominator, which are called like fractions, by comparing the numerators. For example, to compare 7/9 and 4/9, note that 7 > 4, so 7/9 > 4/9. Students also learn to compare fractions with the different denominators, which are called  more...

Students learn to compare fractions with the same denominator, which are called like fractions, by comparing the numerators. For example, to compare 7/9 and 4/9, note that 7 > 4, so 7/9 > 4/9. Students also learn to compare fractions with the different denominators, which are called unlike fractions, by first finding a common denominator, then comparing the numerators. For example, to compare 1/2 and 1/3, first find a common denominator, or the Least Common Multiple of 2 and 3, which is 6. To get 6 in the denominator of 1/2, multiply the numerator and denominator by 3, to get 3/6. To get 6 in the denominator of 1/3, multiply the numerator and denominator by 2, to get 2/6. Next, compare 3/6 and 2/6. Note that 3 > 2, so 3/6 > 2/6, which means that 1/2 > 1/3.  less...