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Visually comparing fractions review

Review comparing fractions with fraction models and number lines, and try some practice problems.

Comparing fractions

We can compare fractions by seeing which one takes up a greater portion of the same whole.

Comparing fractions with fraction models

Let's look at an example.
Compare start fraction, 4, divided by, 6, end fraction and start fraction, 6, divided by, 9, end fraction with is greater than, comma, is less than, comma or equals.
First, let's divide two same-sized wholes into sixths and ninths.
Two equal-sized circles, one divided into 6 equal parts and the other divided into 9 equal parts.
Next. we need to fill in 4 of the sixths to show start color #11accd, start fraction, 4, divided by, 6, end fraction, end color #11accd and 6 of the ninths to show start color #1fab54, start fraction, 6, divided by, 9, end fraction, end color #1fab54.
Two equal-sized circles, one divided into 6 equal parts with 4 parts shaded and the other divided into 9 equal parts with 6 parts shaded. The area of the 4 shaded parts of the first circle is equal to the area of the 6 shaded parts of the second circle.
The fractions represent the same portion of the whole. So, they are equal.
start color #11accd, start fraction, 4, divided by, 6, end fraction, end color #11accd, equals, start color #1fab54, start fraction, 6, divided by, 9, end fraction, end color #1fab54
Want to learn more about comparing fractions with fraction models? Check out this video.

Comparing fractions with number lines

Let's look at an example.
Compare start fraction, 5, divided by, 3, end fraction and start fraction, 9, divided by, 6, end fraction with is greater than, comma, is less than, comma or equals.
A number line labeled 0 to 2 with tick marks at 0, 1, and 2 emphasized. Tick marks at every one-sixth unit are marked, with a blue dot labeled five-thirds at the ten-sixths tick mark.
Let's think about where each fraction is located on the number line.
A number line labeled 0 to 2 with tick marks at 0, six-sixths, and 2 emphasized. Tick marks at every one-sixth unit are marked, with a green dot at the nine-sixths tick mark and a blue dot at the ten-sixths tick mark, which is also labeled five-thirds.
start color #11accd, start fraction, 5, divided by, 3, end fraction, end color #11accd is located to the right of start color #1fab54, start fraction, 9, divided by, 6, end fraction, end color #1fab54 on the number line, so start color #11accd, start fraction, 5, divided by, 3, end fraction, end color #11accd is greater than start color #1fab54, start fraction, 9, divided by, 6, end fraction, end color #1fab54.
start color #11accd, start fraction, 5, divided by, 3, end fraction, end color #11accd, is greater than, start color #1fab54, start fraction, 9, divided by, 6, end fraction, end color #1fab54
Want to learn more about comparing fractions with number lines? Check out this video.

Practice

Problem 1
  • Current
Compare the fractions with is greater than, comma, is less than, comma or equals.
Hint: Think about how you would fill in each rectangle below to help you compare the fractions.
start fraction, 3, divided by, 4, end fraction
start fraction, 4, divided by, 5, end fraction
Two rows of equal length made up of rectangles. The top row is made up of 4 equal-sized rectangles and the bottom row is made up of 5 equal-sized rectrangles.

Want to try more problems like this? Check out this exercise.

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