Comparing Fractions Practice
20 questions · 60 seconds · unlike denominators included
Free · no login · instant feedback on every answer
Build real fraction number sense: each question shows two fractions — like 3/5 and 2/3 — and asks which is greater or smaller. The other fraction is always among the answer tiles, so guessing the one you recognize does not work; you have to actually compare.
Comparing fractions is where the "bigger number means bigger fraction" instinct finally breaks: 1/3 is bigger than 1/8 even though 8 is bigger than 3, because eighths are smaller pieces. Unlike-denominator pairs force students to reason with equivalence or cross-multiplication — the same tools they will need for ordering fractions, placing them on number lines, and estimating in 4th and 5th grade.
Tips That Make It Stick
- Cross-multiply for a fast verdict. For 3/5 vs 2/3, compute 3 × 3 = 9 and 2 × 5 = 10. The bigger cross product sits with the bigger fraction — here 2/3 wins.
- Same numerator? Smaller bottom wins. 3/5 beats 3/8 because fifths are bigger pieces than eighths. This is the single most-tested fraction misconception, and it falls to one idea: the denominator names the piece size.
- Benchmark against one half. Ask whether each fraction is more or less than 1/2 — 5/9 is just over, 3/8 is under. Many comparisons resolve instantly without any multiplying.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you compare two fractions with different denominators?
Cross-multiply: multiply each numerator by the other fraction's denominator and compare the products. For 3/5 vs 2/3, compare 3 × 3 = 9 with 2 × 5 = 10 — since 10 is bigger, 2/3 is the greater fraction. Rewriting both with a common denominator works the same way.
Why is 1/3 bigger than 1/8?
The denominator tells how many equal pieces the whole is cut into — thirds are big pieces, eighths are small ones. With the same count of pieces (one each), the bigger piece wins. Seeing through this is a key step in real fraction understanding.
What grade compares fractions?
Comparing fractions with like denominators or like numerators is a 3rd grade skill; comparing any two fractions using equivalence or cross-multiplication is central to 4th grade and stays in use from then on.
📝 Matching Printable Worksheets
Prefer paper practice? These free PDF worksheets cover the same skill — each includes an answer key: