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How to Compare Fractions With Different Denominators

When comparing fractions, you are not only comparing two different values, but four numbers as well. Fractions are composed of two integers, which are whole numbers that can also be negative. The top integer is the fraction's numerator and the bottom one is its denominator. When comparing fractions with the same denominator, you only have to compare the numerators to discover which fraction is greater than, less than or equal to the other. When the denominators are different, you can compare the fractions through simple math involving the numerators and denominators of both fractions.

Instructions

- 1
  Obtain two fractions for comparison. For this example, let the fractions be 2/5 and 3/7.
- 2
  Multiply the first fraction's numerator to the second fraction's denominator. In this example, multiplying 2 to 7 results in a product of 14.
- 3
  Multiply the first fraction's denominator to the second fraction's numerator. In this example, multiplying 5 by 3 results in a product of 15.
- 4
  Compare the two products. If the two are equal, then the fractions are equal; if the first product is more than the second product, then the first fraction is larger than the second one. If the first product is less than the second one, the first product is less than the second one. Concluding this example, the first product of 14 is less than the second product of 15, so the fraction 2/5 is less than the fraction 3/7.

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