Comparing Fractions: Which Is Greater?
Year 8 Mathematics Building fraction comparison skills
Think About It...
Which pizza slice would you choose? 1/3 of a large pizza or 1/2 of a small pizza? How can we decide which fraction is larger?
What Are We Learning Today?
Compare fractions with different denominators Use multiple strategies to determine which fraction is greater Apply fraction comparison to real-world problems Build confidence with fraction relationships
Review: What Is a Fraction?
A fraction represents part of a whole Numerator (top) = parts we have Denominator (bottom) = total equal parts Example: 3/4 means 3 out of 4 equal parts
Quick Fraction Check
Look at these fraction bars: Which represents 2/3? Which represents 3/4? Discuss with your partner
Comparing Fractions: The Challenge
Easy when denominators are the same: 2/5 vs 3/5 Harder when denominators are different: 2/3 vs 3/4 We need strategies to help us compare Let's learn several methods!
Strategy 1: Visual Models
Draw or use fraction models Compare the shaded areas Circles, rectangles, or bars work well Great for understanding, but can be time-consuming
Try Visual Comparison
Draw models to compare: 1/2 and 2/3 Work in pairs Which fraction is greater?
Strategy 2: Common Denominators
Find a common denominator Convert both fractions Compare the numerators Example: 2/3 = 8/12 and 3/4 = 9/12, so 3/4 > 2/3
Finding Common Denominators
{"left":"List multiples of each denominator\nFind the smallest common multiple","right":"Convert both fractions\nCompare numerators"}
Practice Common Denominators
Compare using common denominators: 3/5 vs 2/3 1/4 vs 2/7 Show your working clearly
Strategy 3: Cross Multiplication
Multiply numerator of first fraction by denominator of second Multiply numerator of second fraction by denominator of first Compare the products Example: 2/3 vs 3/4 → 2×4 = 8, 3×3 = 9, so 3/4 > 2/3
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