Nearly every Number Sense test has a problem asking which is smaller, and offers you two fractions. Though this might seem simple, I always get mixed up when they provide negative fractions, so I decided to dedicate a blog to this subject.
If the two fractions are positive, it is easy to determine which is smaller and which is larger. Simply use the zipper method!
EX: 3/4 amd 2/3, which is larger?
Using the zipper method, 3*3 = 9, and 4*2 = 8. 9 is greater than 8, and in the zipper method would be found under 3/4. Thus, 3/4 is larger than 2/3.
With negative numbers, the larger number is the number closer to zero. Though in the above example 3/4 was larger to 2/3, if both numbers were negative, -2/3 would be LARGER than -3/4, because it is closer in range to 0.
-Marisa
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