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Fraction Comparator

Compare two fractions and find out which is bigger. See cross-multiplication, common denominator conversion, and decimal comparison — three methods to verify your answer.

Quick Tips

  • Cross-multiplication is the fastest way to compare two fractions
  • Using a common denominator lets you compare fractions by looking at numerators
  • Decimal conversion helps build number sense and intuition
  • If cross products are equal, the fractions are equivalent
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Understanding Fraction Comparison

Method 1: Cross Multiplication

Cross-multiply by taking the numerator of each fraction times the denominator of the other. The fraction with the larger product is the larger fraction. This is the fastest method for comparing two fractions without finding a common denominator.

Method 2: Common Denominator

Convert both fractions to equivalent fractions with the same denominator using the LCM. Then simply compare the numerators. This method is intuitive because you're comparing fractions of the same-sized pieces.

Method 3: Decimal Conversion

Divide each numerator by its denominator to get a decimal value. This helps build number sense and is especially useful when comparing fractions on a number line.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing fractions

You can compare fractions using three methods: (1) Cross-multiplication — multiply the numerator of each fraction by the denominator of the other and compare the products; (2) Common denominator — convert both fractions to equivalent fractions with the same denominator; (3) Decimal conversion — divide the numerator by the denominator for each fraction and compare the decimals.

After comparing, the fraction with the larger value is the bigger one. Our tool shows you all three comparison methods so you can verify the result. If both fractions represent the same value, they are equivalent fractions.

Cross-multiplication is a quick way to compare two fractions. Multiply the numerator of the first fraction by the denominator of the second, then multiply the numerator of the second by the denominator of the first. The larger product belongs to the larger fraction. For example, comparing 3/7 and 5/9: 3×9=27 and 7×5 (via 5×7)=35, so 5/9 > 3/7.

Find the least common multiple (LCM) of both denominators. Convert each fraction to an equivalent fraction with that common denominator. Then simply compare the numerators — the fraction with the larger numerator is the larger fraction. This method makes the comparison visually clear since both fractions now have the same-sized pieces.