# 4.04 Order fractions

Lesson

Being able to identify a  fraction using a model  will help us in this lesson. Let's try a practice problem now.

### Examples

#### Example 1

Below is a fraction bar.

What is the fraction of the coloured piece?

A
\dfrac{2}{3}
B
\dfrac{3}{4}
C
\dfrac{1}{4}
D
\dfrac{1}{3}
Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Write the fraction as: \,\, \dfrac{\text{Number of shaded parts}}{\text{Total number of parts}}.

Apply the idea

There is 1 shaded part and 3 total parts in the fraction bar. So the fraction is \dfrac{1}{3}.

The correct option is D.

Idea summary

To represent a fraction with a fraction model:

The numerator tells us how many parts should be shaded in. The denominator tells us how many parts to divide the shape into.

## Order unit fractions

This video looks at how to compare unit fractions.

### Examples

#### Example 2

Using the fraction wall, which of the following fractions is smaller?

A
\dfrac{1}{6}
B
\dfrac{1}{7}
Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Compare the size of the bricks for the given fractions.

Apply the idea

Here are the bricks for each fraction.

The denominator of the fraction tells us how many parts the whole is divided into. The smaller brick will represent the smaller fraction.

Looking from the top to the bottom of the fraction wall, the fraction become smaller and smaller.

We can see that the brick for \dfrac{1}{7} is smaller than the brick for \dfrac{1}{6}.

So \dfrac{1}{7} is the smaller fraction. The answer is option B.

Idea summary

The bigger the denominator the smaller the fraction.

## Order and count fractions

This video looks at how to compare fractions with the same denominators.

### Examples

#### Example 3

Order these fractions from smallest to largest.

Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Write each fraction with the same denominator.

Apply the idea

The shape has 3 parts and 2 are shaded. So it represents the fraction \dfrac{2}{3}.

3 thirds is equal to \dfrac{3}{3}.

So we have to order the fractions: \dfrac{2}{3}, \, \dfrac{3}{3}, \, \dfrac{1}{3}.

1 is the smallest numerator, then 2 and then 3. So the fractions in order are: \dfrac{1}{3}, \, \dfrac{2}{3}, \, \dfrac{3}{3}.

The order of the original fractions is:

Idea summary

In comparing fractions with the same bottom numbers (denominator), the higher the top number (numerator) is, the larger the value.

Remember to count up all the pieces to find the denominator, not just the unshaded ones. Count the shaded pieces to find the numerator.

## Order and count mixed and improper fractions

What about if we have mixed numbers or improper fractions. How do we order fractions then?

### Examples

#### Example 4

Choose the largest number from the options below.

A
1
B
\dfrac{1}{2}
C
\dfrac{3}{2}
Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Plot the numbers on a number line.

Apply the idea

Here is the number line from 0 to 2 with 2 parts between each whole number. Each of the 2 spaces represents \dfrac{1}{2}.

The 3 numbers are plotted on the number line.

We can see that \dfrac{3}{2} is furthest to the right, so \dfrac{3}{2} is the largest number.

Idea summary

A mixed fraction is another way to express an improper fraction, and vice-versa, so you can rename them if you need to.

To compare fractions, we can plot them on the number line. The fraction furthest to the right is the largest.

### Outcomes

#### VCMNA187

Compare and order common unit fractions and locate and represent them on a number line