Fractions and Ratio: Comparing and Counting Fractions

Methods in this video

Tap a time to jump to where the video teaches that method.

1. 1

   Same unit first; closest means smallest gap

   ▶ 0:59

   When to use it: Compare, order or match fractions, mixed numbers, decimals and percentages. Find which values lie between two bounds or closest to a target.

   • Choose an easy common unit. Adding zeros at the end of a decimal does not change its value.
   • For closest, compare positive gaps from the same target. Check both sides.
   • Check the order and whether the endpoints are allowed. The middle card is found after sorting.
2. 2

   Find the distance; count the steps in one whole

   ▶ 5:13

   When to use it: Count fraction-sized pieces or jumps, count small units in a mixed number, or find the endpoint after a given number of fraction steps.

   • Find the actual distance first: end minus start.
   • One whole has b parts of size 1/b. A step of a/b uses a of those parts.
   • Do not count the start as a jump. Group jumps into wholes, then move in the right direction. Work out time last.