Fractions topic
Help your child figure out which fraction is greater, choose the best comparison method, and turn the reasoning into language that is easy to explain out loud.
Interactive compare tool
Fraction A
Fraction B
Tap a bar segment to shade parts, or use the steppers.
Use a benchmark
Use one-half3/5 covers more of the whole.
One-half is a familiar benchmark, so compare the other fraction to one-half first.
See why
Use one-halfOne-half gives you a quick checkpoint, so you can see whether the other fraction falls below it or above it.
Explain to a child
First ask whether the fraction is less than half, equal to half, or more than half.
Compare in more ways
How to compare fractions
Some fraction pairs are easy to compare right away. Others become clearer after a benchmark, a simplification step, or a matching denominator.
What it means: When the denominators match, the pieces are the same size.
When to use it: Use this first whenever both fractions are already split into the same number of equal parts.
How to explain it to a child: If the slices are the same size, the fraction with more slices is greater.
Quick example: 3/8 > 1/8
What it means: When the numerators match, compare the size of the parts instead of the count.
When to use it: Use this when both fractions count the same number of parts.
How to explain it to a child: If both fractions count one piece, the bigger piece wins.
Quick example: 1/3 > 1/4
What it means: Compare each fraction to one-half or one whole first.
When to use it: Use this when one fraction is clearly close to one-half or one whole.
How to explain it to a child: Ask whether each fraction is less than half, equal to half, or more than half.
Quick example: 3/5 > 1/2
What it means: Rewrite both fractions with the same denominator so the part size matches.
When to use it: Use this when the pair does not share a numerator or denominator and no easy benchmark stands out.
How to explain it to a child: Make the slices match first, then see which fraction has more of those slices.
Quick example: 2/3 > 3/5
What it means: Cross multiplication gives a quick check for harder unlike fractions.
When to use it: Use this after the visual or benchmark idea is already clear, or when you need a fast confirmation.
How to explain it to a child: This is the fast check, but it still helps to ask whether the answer makes sense.
Quick example: 5/6 > 3/4
Common comparison questions
Short answer: Yes. 1/3 is greater than 1/4.
Best method: Compare part size because the numerators are the same.
Explain it to a child: If the same whole is split into 3 parts, each part is bigger than when it is split into 4 parts.
Short answer: Yes. 3/5 is greater than 1/2.
Best method: Use one-half as a benchmark.
Explain it to a child: Three-fifths is more than half of the whole, so it is greater than one-half.
Short answer: Yes. 3/5 is greater than 4/8.
Best method: Simplify 4/8 to 1/2 first.
Explain it to a child: Four-eighths is the same as one-half, and three-fifths is more than one-half.
Ordering fractions
Ordering fractions means placing several fractions from least to greatest or greatest to least. The same comparison ideas still apply, but now you use them across a small set instead of one pair.
Group fractions by whether they are below one-half, equal to one-half, or above one-half before sorting the final order.
Rewrite each fraction so the part sizes match, then place them from least to greatest by comparing numerators.
Quick example: 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 already show a clear least-to-greatest order once you compare each fraction to one-half.
Ready to sort a full set? Order fractions step by step and print the same set as a worksheet.
Practice and worksheets
Ready to practice? The free comparing fractions worksheet generates a level-based set with method explanations and prints it with an answer key.
Common questions
