--- title: "Comparing fractions (age 10+)" description: "Compare and order fractions including fractions greater than 1, by converting to common denominators or using benchmarks" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/comparing-fractions-age-10-mt_PL9VkDwXfh source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/comparing-fractions-age-10-mt_PL9VkDwXfh.md retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Comparing fractions (age 10+) Compare and order fractions including fractions greater than 1, by converting to common denominators or using benchmarks Subject: Mathematics · Area: Fractions · Ages 10 to 11 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/comparing-fractions-age-10-mt_PL9VkDwXfh ## Ready when they can - Order 3/4, 7/8, 5/6, and 11/12 from smallest to largest - Compare 7/5 and 4/3 using common denominators - Place improper fractions and mixed numbers on a number line in correct order ## Lesson: Comparing fractions greater than one You already know how to compare two fractions by finding a common denominator. Now you will use that same skill to order more than two fractions at once, and to compare fractions greater than one whole. To order several fractions, convert them all to the same denominator first. Once every fraction has the same bottom number, the one with the smallest top number is smallest, and the one with the largest top number is largest. *(drawing: This bar shows 5/6 shaded. To compare it with 11/12, you would give both fractions the same number of equal pieces first.)* **Example.** Compare 7/5 and 4/3. A common denominator is 15: 7/5 becomes 21/15, and 4/3 becomes 20/15. Since 21 is more than 20, 7/5 is the larger fraction, even though both fractions are greater than one whole. **Tip.** Quick check: if the top number is bigger than the bottom number, the fraction is greater than 1. Use that to guess roughly where a fraction sits, then confirm with a common denominator when two fractions are close, like 7/5 and 4/3. **Recap.** Convert fractions to a common denominator to compare or order them, even when they are greater than one whole. ## Practice 16 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Simplifying Fractions](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/simplifying-fractions-mt_b7T-CjOYUR) - [Mixed numbers and improper fractions](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/mixed-numbers-and-improper-fractions-mt_o_p-3tCxiM) - [Comparing fractions (age 9+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/comparing-fractions-age-9-mt_SXbZ3bC9z7) ## Opens up - [Calculations with fractions, decimals and negatives](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/calculations-with-fractions-decimals-and-negatives-mt_gNUE4B3vuk)