Page 188 - Math Smart - 7

CHAPTER 8.4

In this chapter

Pupils should be able to: Comparing and Ordering
• compare two fractions
by using diagrams, or
Fractions
by using a calculator to
convert the fractions to
decimals
8.4.1 Comparing and ordering

^ RECALL unlike fractions

You have learnt to compare and arrange like fractions which have the same
O Which is greater,
denominators. Let us now learn to compare and arrange unlike fractions. These
are fractions with different numerators and denominators.

O Which is greater,
Example 1
lorl7

@ Arrange and
Which of the fractions, ^ and^ Is the smallest? Which is the greatest?
in ascending order.
Solution

Mathematician

Thomas
Harriot
(1560- 1621)
The signs for
greater than The circles are of the same size.
P
(>) and less than (<) were Circle P is divided into 8 equal parts.
introduced in 1631 in his Circle Q is divided into 11 equal parts. Q
book "Artis Analyticae
Circle R is divided into 5 equal parts. R
Praxis ad Aequationes
The part coloured in Circle Q is the smallest.
Algebraicas Resolvendas."
It was only published 10 is the smallest fraction.
years after his death! The
The part coloured in Circle R is the greatest.
symbols were actually
invented by the book's ^ is the greatest fraction.
editor. Harriot initially
used triangular symbols
which the editor later
modified to resemble the
modern less/greater than
symbols.

UNIT 8 I Fractions