Is 1/3 Bigger Than 5/9?

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 \(\frac{5}{9}\) as it is — the denominator is already 9.
• Step 3. Compare the numerators: 3 vs 5.
• Step 4. Since 3 is less than 5, we know that \(\frac{1}{3} < \frac{5}{9}\).

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: \(5 \times 3 = 15\).
• Step 3. Compare the products: \(9 < 15\), so \(\frac{1}{3} < \frac{5}{9}\).

Method 3: Decimal Comparison

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

Since 0.333333 is less than 0.555556, we confirm that \(\frac{1}{3} < \frac{5}{9}\). In percentage terms, \(\frac{1}{3}\) is 33.3333% and \(\frac{5}{9}\) is 55.5556%, a difference of 22.2222 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 5 pieces is a straightforward comparison.