Lesson 12 Ways to Compare Fractions

    • Let’s compare some fractions.

Warm-up Estimation Exploration: What’s That Point?

What is the value represented by the point on the number line?

number line. Scale, 0 to 1. Unlabeled point, right of one fourth, left of one half.

Make an estimate that is:

too low

about right

too high

Activity 1 The Greatest of Them All

Here are 25 fractions in a table.

A

B

C

D

E

1

2

3

4

5

For each question, be prepared to explain your reasoning.

  1. Identify the greatest fraction in each column (A, B, C, D, and E).

  2. Identify the greatest fraction in each row (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5).

  3. Which fraction is the greatest fraction in the entire table?

Activity 2 Relative to and 1

Here is the same table you saw earlier.

A

B

C

D

E

1

2

3

4

5

  1. Which fractions are less than ? Circle each one of them. Then, complete this sentence:

    I know a fraction is less than when …

  2. Which are greater than but less than 1? Circle each of them with a pencil of a different color (or draw a triangle around each one). Then, complete this sentence:

    I know a fraction is greater than but less than 1 when …

  3. Circle the remaining fractions with a pencil of a third color (or draw a square around each one). How would you describe the size of these fractions?

  4. Next to the table, create a legend or key to show what each color (or each shape) represents.

  5. Here are some pairs of fractions from the table. In each pair, which fraction is greater?

    1. or 

    2. or 

    3. or 

    4. or 

Practice Problem

Problem 1

For each pair of fractions, decide which fraction is greater. Explain or show your reasoning.

  1. or

  2. or

  3. or