Is 1/3 Bigger Than 4/9?

Method 1: Common Denominators

To compare these fractions, we need a common denominator. The denominators are 3 and 9, and the least common denominator (LCD) is 9.

• Step 1. Convert \(\frac{1}{3}\): multiply numerator and denominator by 3.
  \[\frac{1}{3} = \frac{1 \times 3}{3 \times 3} = \frac{3}{9}\]
• Step 2. Keep \(\frac{4}{9}\) as it is — the denominator is already 9.
• Step 3. Compare the numerators: 3 vs 4.
• Step 4. Since 3 is less than 4, we know that \(\frac{1}{3} < \frac{4}{9}\).

Method 2: Cross Multiplication

A quicker way to compare fractions is to cross-multiply. Multiply each numerator by the other fraction's denominator:

• Step 1. Multiply the numerator of the first fraction by the denominator of the second: \(1 \times 9 = 9\).
• Step 2. Multiply the numerator of the second fraction by the denominator of the first: \(4 \times 3 = 12\).
• Step 3. Compare the products: \(9 < 12\), so \(\frac{1}{3} < \frac{4}{9}\).

Method 3: Decimal Comparison

Convert each fraction to a decimal by dividing the numerator by the denominator:

Since 0.333333 is less than 0.444444, we confirm that \(\frac{1}{3} < \frac{4}{9}\). In percentage terms, \(\frac{1}{3}\) is 33.3333% and \(\frac{4}{9}\) is 44.4444%, a difference of 11.1111 percentage points.

Why Does This Work?

These fractions have different numerators and different denominators, so we can't compare them directly. By converting to a common denominator of 9, we're cutting both quantities into equal-sized pieces. Then 3 pieces vs 4 pieces is a straightforward comparison.