Comparing Natural Fractions: Identifying Greater and Smaller Fractions - 4th Maths Term 2 Unit 6

To Compare Natural Fraction and identifies greater and Smaller.

Introduction

Mother: Muthamizh and Sentamizh come here

Muthamizh & Sentamizh: Yes, Amma

(Mother had four equal parts of a watermelon. She gave them each one piece of the watermelon)

Sentamizh: Amma, I need one more piece? (She gave another piece to him)

Muthamizh: Amma you gave more than one piece to brother, that’s 1/4 for me and 2/4 for brother.

Mother: Muthamizh! Sentamizh is your younger brother know? So only I gave him ok, eat it and then play (After returned from the play)

Sentamizh: Amma, I am hungry (Mother gave last piece of the watermelon to him)

Muthamizh: Amma you gave me 1/4 part of the watermelon. For brother you gave 2/4 it’s more than 1/4. Now you gave the last piece (1/4) part to brother so you gave more (3/4) parts of the watermelon.

Mother: you Know, your brother never tolerate his hungry? I have milk for you, go and drink it.

Understanding the Comparison

The four equal pieces of the watermelon

A piece given to Muthamizh = 1/4

First a piece given to Sentamizh = 1/4

Again a piece given to Sentamizh = 2/4

Muthamizh Compares her piece of fruit with his brother and realizes that her mother gives more pieces to him than her. 2/4 is greater than 1/4 or

1/4 < 2/4

Sentamizh after finished his playing he ate one more piece = 1/4

So totally he ate = 3/4 (three fourth)

Muthamizh now realize that 3/4 is greater than 2/4, Muthamizh Compares all the three:

3/4 is greater than 1/4

3/4 is greater than 2/4

Thus: 1/4 < 2/4 < 3/4

1/4 < 2/4 < 3/4

Simple fraction (or like fraction)

1/4 < 2/4 < 3/4

The shaded portion of the circle’s fraction

1/4, 2/4, 3/4 respectively

Here 1, 2, 3 = Numerator

4, 4, 4 = Denominator

Thus the fractions have same denominator, such fractions are called similar or like fraction.

Similar (like) fraction are fraction with same denominators.

Examples

EXAMPLE 1

Identify which one is greater or smaller

• (i) If you observe the pictures you can notice that they are equally divided.
• (ii) In the 1st picture one part is shaded so its fraction = 1/4
• (iii) In the 2nd picture two parts are shaded. So its fraction = 2/4

In picture 2 the shaded portion is greater than picture 1.

Picture 2 is greater than picture 1

∴ 2/4 > 1/4

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EXAMPLE 2

1st picture's fraction = 2/5

2nd picture's fraction = 3/5

Here the shaded portion of the 2nd picture is high, so the 2nd picture is greater than the first.

In other words we can say picture 1 is smaller than picture 2

2/5 < 3/5 ( 2/5 is smaller than 3/5)