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Year 7

Ordering fractions in different ways

I can compare and order fractions using a range of techniques.

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New
New
Year 7

Ordering fractions in different ways

I can compare and order fractions using a range of techniques.

Download all resources
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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Two fractions can be compared when they have the same numerator.
  2. Two fractions can be compared by comparing their respective differences from 1.

Keywords

  • Denominator - A denominator is the expression in a fraction that is written below the fraction line. It is the divisor.

  • Numerator - A numerator is the expression in a fraction that is written above the fraction line. It is the dividend.

  • Proper fraction - A proper fraction is a fraction where the numerator is less than the denominator.

Common misconception

That fractions can only be compared using a common denominator.

Lots of visual representations are useful here looking at what happens to the size of the 'parts' as the denominator increases.

As pupils come into the room have 4 digits on the board, it would be useful if one of the digits was repeated. Ask them to write down 2 fractions and identify the greater. This will allow you to assess if any think of the same same numerator.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Order the steps to show that $$\frac{12}{20}$$ is not equivalent to $$\frac{48}{100}$$
1 - $$\frac{12}{20} \times 1$$
2 - $$\frac{12}{20} \times \frac{5}{5}$$
3 - $$\frac{12 \times 5}{20 \times 5}$$
4 - $$\frac{60}{100}$$
Q2.
True or false? $$\frac{2}{3} = \frac{34}{48}$$
True
Correct answer: False
Q3.
Which of the following are true?
$$\frac{2}{3} = \frac{34}{48}$$
$$\frac{4}{9} = \frac{20}{36}$$
Correct answer: $$\frac{7}{9} = \frac{56}{72}$$
Correct answer: $$\frac{48}{144} = \frac{1}{3}$$
Correct answer: $$\frac{112}{80} = \frac{7}{5}$$
Q4.
Select the correct symbol to make the statement true. $$\frac{5}{8}\ \square \ \frac{11}{16} $$
Correct answer: <
>
=
Q5.
Select the correct symbol to make the statement true. $$\frac{6}{5}\ \square \ \frac{108}{90} $$
<
>
Correct answer: =
Q6.
Select the correct symbol to make the statement true. $$\frac{9}{12}\ \square \ \frac{10}{16} $$
<
Correct answer: >
=

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
True or false? A proper fraction has a numerator which is greater than its denominator.
True
Correct answer: False
Q2.
In which of the following would it be easier to compare the numerators?
Correct answer: $$\frac{4}{7}$$ and $$\frac{12}{39}$$
$$\frac{101}{120}$$ and $$\frac{103}{240}$$
Correct answer: $$\frac{8}{3}$$ and $$\frac{64}{25}$$
$$\frac{15}{27}$$ and $$\frac{7}{9}$$
Q3.
The the denominator, the smaller the parts.
Correct Answer: larger
Q4.
Which statements need the symbol > inserted to make them true?
$$\frac{11}{22}\ \square \ \frac{11}{20} $$
Correct answer: $$\frac{17}{6}\ \square \ \frac{17}{9} $$
$$\frac{5}{1917}\ \square \ \frac{5}{1916} $$
Correct answer: $$\frac{987}{988}\ \square \ \frac{987}{998} $$
Q5.
Write the following in order from smallest to largest.
1 - $$\frac{17}{300}$$
2 - $$\frac{17}{287}$$
3 - $$\frac{17}{54}$$
4 - $$\frac{17}{53}$$
5 - $$\frac{17}{17}$$
6 - $$\frac{17}{3}$$
Q6.
Jun completes a 20 question maths quiz and gets 19 correct. Laura completes a 19 question maths quiz and gets 18 correct. Who did better and why?
Correct answer: Jun as he only got one question wrong from a greater number of questions
Laura as she only got one question wrong from a smaller number of questions
Neither as they are both one question away from getting it all correct.