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How to Determine If a Fraction Is Bigger Than Another Fraction

Fractions represent parts of a whole, such as the number of attempts that are successful or the portion of monthly income each expense takes up. In a fraction, the number on top is called the numerator and the number on the bottom is the denominator. If you have multiple fractions with different denominators, it can be hard to tell which one is largest. However, by using cross-multiplication, you can quickly determine which one is bigger.

Calculator

Instructions

- 1
  Multiply the numerator of the first fraction by the denominator of the second fraction. For example, if your fractions are 3/5 and 1/2, multiply 3 by 2 to get 6.
- 2
  Multiply the denominator of the first fraction by the numerator of the second fraction. In this example, multiply 5 by 1 to get 5.
- 3
  Compare the results. If the product of the numerator of the first fraction and the denominator of the second fraction is larger, the first fraction is larger. If it is smaller, the second fraction is larger. If they are equal, the fractions are equivalent. In the example, because 6 is greater than 5, 3/5 is greater than 1/2.

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