CHAPTER – 4

Comparison of Fractions
COMPARISON OF FRACTIONS: 4.05. Which of the following fractions is the largest?
Comparison of fractions will be required in a number of 71 214 429
, ,
problems in Data Interpretation and Quantitative Ability. 181 519 1141
Let us study some of the common methods of identifying
71 71 x 6 426
out the largest or smallest of a given set of fractions. Sol. = =
181 181 x 6 1086
Type 1:
214 214 x 2 428
When two or more fractions have the same numerators = =
519 519 x 2 1038
and different denominators, the fraction with the largest
denominator is the smallest. The numerators are now all almost equal
(426, 428 and 429). The smallest denominator
4.01. Which of the following fractions is the smallest? is 1038.
3 3 3 3 Hence the largest fraction must be
, , ,
5 7 13 8 428 214
i.e.
Sol. 13 is the largest denominator, hence 3/13 is the 1038 519
smallest fraction. 5 is the smallest denominator,
Type 5:
hence 3/5 is the largest fraction.
A: For a fraction less than 1.
Type 2:
If the difference between the numerator and the
When the numerators are different and the denominators are denominator is same, then the fraction with the larger
same, the fraction with the largest numerator is the largest. values of numerator and denominator will be the largest.
4.02. Which of the following fractions is the smallest? 4.06. Which of the following fractions is the largest.
7 9 4 11 31 23 17 35 13
, , , , , , ,
5 5 5 5 37 29 23 41 19
Sol. As 4 is the smallest numerator, the fraction 4/5 Sol. The difference between the numerator and the
is the smallest. denominator of each fraction is 6. ∴ The
As 11 is the largest numerator, the fraction 11/5 fraction with the larger numerals i.e., 35/41 is
is the largest. the greatest and the fraction with smaller
Type 3: numerals i.e., 13/19 is the smallest.
B: For a fraction greater than 1.
The fraction with the largest numerator and the smallest
denominator is the largest. If the difference between the numerator and denominator
is same, then the fraction with the smaller values will be
4.03. Which of the following fractions is the largest?
the largest.
19 24 17 21 23
, , , , 4.07. Which of the following fraction is largest?
16 11 13 14 15
31 43 57 27 29
Sol. As 24 is the largest numerator and 11 is the , , , ,
27 39 53 23 25
24
smallest denominator, is the largest fraction. Sol. As the difference between the numerator and
11 the denominator is same, the fraction with the
Type 4: 27
smaller values i.e., , is the largest.
When the numerators of two fractions are the unequal, 23
we try and equate them by suitably cancelling factors or 4.08. Which of the following fractions is the largest?
by suitably multiplying the numerators. Thereafter we 15 23 31 11
compare the denominators as in Type 1. , , ,
17 29 34 15
4.04. Which of the following fractions is the largest?
Sol. Comparing fractions
64 28 36 49
, , , 15 23
328 152 176 196 and
17 29
64 32 16 8 1
Sol. = = = ~ The numerator of the fraction has increased
328 164 82 41 5 8
28 14 7 1 from 15 to 23 i.e., i.e. a little more than 50%.
= = ~ 15
152 76 38 5 .5 The denominator of the fraction has increased
36 18 9 1 49 7 1 from 17 to 29 i.e. 12/17 i.e. well over 50%. As the
= = ~ = = percentage increase in the numerator is less than
176 88 44 5 196 28 4
As all the numerators are 1 and the least the percentage increase in the denominator, the
49 15 23 15 31
denominator is 4, the fraction is the largest. fraction > . Now compare with .
196 17 29 17 34
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 As the change in the numerator is more than double 5 1 1 1
(15 to 31), and the change in the denominator is ∴ = and ≅
13 2.6 20 2.2
15 31
exactly double, the fraction < . 1 1
17 34 Now, clearly < (from rule (ii) above)
2.6 2.2
11 31
Now compare and . 5 9
15 34 ⇒ <
13 20
The numerator has almost tripled from 11 to 31
Another method of comparing fractions is by
whereas the denominator has just over doubled
comparing the percentage changes in
from 15 to 34. Since the increase in numerator
denominators and numerators. The important
is greater than the increase in the denominator,
points to remember are that when two fractions
31 11 are compared, if the percentage increase in the
> .
34 15 numerator is more than the percentage increase
31 in the denominator (where the first fraction is
So, is the largest fraction. taken as reference), then the second fraction is
34
We can also compare fractions as follows. greater than the first fraction. Conversely, if the
For example, to compare 5/13 and 9/20 make percentage increase in the denominator is
the numerator 1 for all the fractions by greater than that in the numerator, then the
approximately dividing the denominator with the second fraction is smaller than the first.
respective numerator (upto first decimal place).

Exercise – 4(a)
Directions for questions 1 to 15: Find the greatest of 65 78 16
the following fractions. 13. , ,
126 153 31
21 31 41 61
1. , , , 79 43 17 102 221
38 48 58 78 14. , , , ,
108 69 30 129 435
12 17 21 34
2. , , , 8 17 43 91 113
31 48 51 87 15. , , , ,
35 71 175 400 450
79 91 129 206 Directions for questions 16 to 30: Find the smallest of
3. , , ,
29 31 34 57 the following fractions.

7 11 21 18 28 13 15 18 12
4. , , , , 16. , , ,
29 59 97 89 125 86 71 67 87

19 27 31 11 61 47 68 29 47 61
5. , , , , 17. , , , ,
61 73 98 49 193 21 43 11 27 44

123 81 79 41 53 17 8 19 21 33
6. , , , , 18. , , , ,
172 97 101 63 97 70 51 96 141 193

13 18 7 11 16 13 21 61 37 29
7. , , , , 19. , , , ,
123 147 93 81 157 14 23 93 43 49

39 21 17 28 32 23 37 18 29 33
8. , , , , 20. , , , , .
161 93 77 113 147 57 83 41 71 92

163 103 151 127 15 7 11 18 22

9. , , , 21. , , , ,
183 123 199 181 47 29 37 65 89

7 13 104 122 47 68 51 91 78
10. , , , 22. , , , ,
8 15 119 139 161 243 216 478 352

19 228 342 304 18 31 12 16 25

11. , , , . 23. , , , ,
99 1201 1801 1599 35 63 23 33 49

26 21 89 99 47 613 1277
12. , , , 24. , ,
53 43 102 202 23 300 625
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 465 49 83 97 834 17 25 31 23
25. , , , , 36. , , ,
226 22 40 47 398 67 71 96 70

7 29 24 16 28 15 17 13
26. , , , 37. , , ,
9 39 29 19 37 22 21 17

43 59 67 71 81 21 33 18 53 17
27. , , , , 38. , , , ,
90 100 120 140 160 53 69 41 126 48

335 493 784 524 12 17 29 31 41

28. , , , 39. , , , ,
1089 1584 3107 1725 17 21 48 47 63

12 113 408 516 47 48 51 24 25 39

29. , , , , 40. , , , ,
29 225 825 1089 101 131 163 267 86 147

29 23 17 9 11 Directions for questions 41 to 45: Arrange the given

30. , , , , fractions in descending order.
18 14 12 5 6
22 2 54 78
Directions for questions 31 to 40: Arrange the 41. a = ,b = ,c = ,d =
following in ascending order 34 3 79 109

16 26 32 39 16 27 42 23
31. a = ,b = ,c = ,d = 42. a = ,b = ,c = ,d =
11 21 27 34 43 83 126 63
76 151 375 155
32. a = ,b = ,c = ,d = 19 17 21 24
129 257 640 261 43. a = ,b = ,c = ,d =
56 51 69 79
19 29 31
33. a = ,b = ,c = 23 28 45 51
1730 2639 2790 44. a = ,b = ,c = ,d =
98 103 181 204
21 17 37 27 31
34. , , , ,
31 27 27 17 41 25 93 44 11
45. a = ,b = ,c = ,d =
161 555 264 65
67 39 71 83 47
35. , , , ,
155 141 152 206 142

Exercise – 4(b)
Directions for questions 1 to 15: Find the largest of the 3 5 8 7
following fractions. 7. , , ,
4 7 11 8

43 94 188 435 729 65 137 274 835

1. , , , , 8. , , ,
18 45 91 289 361 128 360 445 1302

18 21 23 43 17 21 11 23 30
2. , , , 9. , , , ,
75 85 95 185 25 40 20 35 47

37 85 121 385 202 27 37 47 57

3. , , , , 10. , , ,
14 41 49 169 81 56 76 96 116

7 13 23 33 43 24 36 42 45
4. , , , , 11. , , ,
12 15 25 35 45 63 93 103 113

4 13 43 37 23 23 34 45 56
5. , , , , 12. , , ,
9 22 89 78 47 32 43 54 65

98 121 239 957 67 24 74 63

6. , , , 13. , , ,
41 53 105 356 89 34 87 71
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 28 38 35 43 Directions for questions 31 to 40: Arrange the given
14. , , , fractions in ascending order.
59 83 74 93
35 47 29 19 41
23 4 131 42 11 31. , , , ,
15. , , , , 68 86 41 40 83
45 9 269 87 24

Directions for questions 16 to 30: Find the smallest of 71 58 32 87

32. , , ,
the following fractions: 129 119 79 139

349 563 721 943 121 183 97 107 141

16. , , , 33. , , , ,
72 120 175 204 396 403 234 281 421

5 3 7 9 11 18 27 41 32 69
17. , , , , 34. , , , ,
12 7 16 20 23 157 179 203 189 335

7 23 41 19 27 102 228 11 1376

18. , , , , 35. , , ,
15 35 25 20 45 37 83 4 499

63 71 79 75 43 86 6
19. , , , 36. , ,
25 31 34 39 51 101 7

13 19 17 51 157 17 144 209

20. , , , 37. , , and
20 39 36 89 120 13 110 160
23 43 33 176 98 39 453
21. , , 38. , , ,
16 26 22 225 125 50 584

94 72 60 269 333 397 64

22. , , 39. , , ,
108 78 68 1336 1669 2002 333

16 34 38 25 204 20406 2607 439743

23. , , , 40. , , ,
21 41 51 31 101 10201 1300 219700

14 17 19 41 Directions for questions 41 to 45: Arrange the given

24. , , ,
63 72 94 201 fractions in descending order.

43 64 85 93 27 39 50 45
25. , , , 41. a = ,b = ,c = ,d =
167 198 345 467 18 25 29 31

12 15 18 22 16 21 31 49
26. , , , 42. a = ,b = ,c = ,d =
15 18 22 27 51 72 94 183

21 32 39 27 37 38 40 45
27. , , , 43. a = ,b = ,c = ,d =
45 65 79 54 12 13 14 17

16 23 27 33 23 35 39 41
28. , , , 44. a = ,b = ,c = ,d =
39 49 59 69 82 96 108 138

23 195 271 71 31 51 43 123

29. , , , 45. , , ,
45 394 539 151 139 193 169 647

11 21 31 41
30. , , ,
43 73 123 163

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 Key
Exercise – 4(a)
61 89 16 39 47 83 67 71
1. 12. 23. 35. , , , ,
78 102 33 141 142 206 155 152
21 16 16 17 31 23 25
2. 13. 24. 36. , , ,
51 31 33 67 96 70 71
102 465 15 28 13 17
129 14. 25. 37. , , ,
3. 129 226 22 37 17 21
34
26. 29/39 17 21 53 18 33
7 113 38. , , , ,
4. 15. 43 48 53 126 41 69
29 450 27.
90 29 41 31 12 17
27 12 39. , , , and
5. 784 48 63 47 17 21
73
16. 28.
87 3107
81 20406 439743 2607 204
6. 61 12 40. < < <
97 17. 29. 10201 219700 1300 101
44 29
11 17
7. 21
30. 78 54 2 22
81 18. 41. > > >
141 12 109 79 3 34
28 5 5 5 5
8. 29 31. > > > 16 23 42 27
113 19. 42. > ,> >
49 11 21 27 34 43 63 126 83
163 155
9. 33 32. 19 17 21 24
183 20. 43. > > >
92 261 56 51 69 79
122 19 29 31
10. 7 33. < < 28 51 45 23
139 21. 44. > > >
29 1730 2639 2790 103 204 181 98
19 17 21 31 37 27
11. 91 34. 11 93 44 25
99 22. , , , , 45. > > >
478 27 31 41 27 17 65 555 264 161

Exercise – 4(b)
43 23 32 58 71 87
1. 15. 32. , , and
18 45 79 119 129 139

2.
21
16.
721 33. 121 , 141 , 107 , 97 and 183
85 175 396 421 281 234 403
37 5 18 27 32 41 69
3. 17. 34. , , , and
14 12 157 179 189 203 335
43 228 11 102 1376
4. 18.
7 35. < < <
45 15 83 4 37 499
13 43 86 6
5. 75 36. < <
22 19. 51 101 7
39
957 209 17 157 144
6. 17 37. < < <
356 20. 160 13 120 110
36
7 453 39 176 98
7. 23 38. < < <
21. 584 50 225 125
8 16
64 397 333 269
8.
835 22. 94/108 39. < < <
1302 23. 38/51 333 2002 1669 1336
24. 19/94 439743 2607 20406 204
17 40. < < <
9. 25. 93/467 219700 1300 10201 101
25
21 50 39 27 45
57 26. 41. > > >
10. 45 29 25 18 31
116
16 31 16 21 49
42 27. 42. > > >
11. 39 94 51 72 183
103
16 37 38 40 45
56 28. 43. > > >
12. 39 12 13 14 17
65 71 35 39 41 23
63 29. 44. > > >
13. 151 96 108 138 82
71 41 51 43 31 123
28
30 45. , , ,
14. 163 193 169 139 647
59 19 41 35 47 29
31. , , , and
40 83 68 86 41

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