Compare fractions: word problems

Key notes:

A percent is 1 part out of 100.

1% is equal to 1/100 or 0.01.

Learn with an example

🔥During study hall, Ernest finished 1/4 of the problems from his maths homework. Jackson did 1/2 of the problems from his maths homework. Who did a greater fraction of his maths problems?

  • Ernest
  • Jackson

First write 1/4 as a decimal. Then convert the decimal to percentage.

1/4 = 0.25 = 25%

Do the same thing for 1/2.

1/2 = 0.5 = 50%

Now compare the percentages.

25% ? 50%

25 is less than 50, so 25% < 50%

Jackson did a greater fraction of his maths problems.

🔥Yesterday, Nicholas bought 1/2 of the items on his shopping list. Kendrick purchased 8/9 of the items on his shopping list. Who bought a greater fraction of the items on his shopping list?

  • Nicholas
  • Kendrick

First write 1/2 as a decimal. Then convert the decimal to percentage.

1/2 = 0.5 = 50%

Do the same thing for 8/9.

8/9 = 0.88888… = 88.888….%

Now compare the percentages. Compare whole number parts.

50% ? 88.888%

50 is less than 88, so 50% < 88.888….%

Kendrick bought a greater fraction of his shopping list items.

🔥Yesterday, Josiah bought 7/10 of the items on his shopping list. daniel purchased 1/6 of the items on his shopping list. Who bought a greater fraction of the items on his shopping list?

  • Josiah
  • daniel

First write 7/10 as a decimal.Then convert the decimal to a percentage.

7/10=0.7=70%

Do the same thing for 1/6.

1/6=0.166666…=16.666…%

Now compare the percentages. Compare the whole-number parts.

70%  16.666…%

70 is greater than 16, so 70% > 16.666…%.

Josiah bought a greater fraction of his shopping list items.

Let’s practice!