Is 1/4 Bigger Than 7/10?

Method 1: Common Denominators

To compare these fractions, we need a common denominator. The denominators are 4 and 10, and the least common denominator (LCD) is 20.

• Step 1. Convert \(\frac{1}{4}\): multiply numerator and denominator by 5.
  \[\frac{1}{4} = \frac{1 \times 5}{4 \times 5} = \frac{5}{20}\]
• Step 2. Convert \(\frac{7}{10}\): multiply numerator and denominator by 2.
  \[\frac{7}{10} = \frac{7 \times 2}{10 \times 2} = \frac{14}{20}\]
• Step 3. Compare the numerators: 5 vs 14.
• Step 4. Since 5 is less than 14, we know that \(\frac{1}{4} < \frac{7}{10}\).

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: \(1 \times 10 = 10\).
• Step 2. Multiply the numerator of the second fraction by the denominator of the first: \(7 \times 4 = 28\).
• Step 3. Compare the products: \(10 < 28\), so \(\frac{1}{4} < \frac{7}{10}\).

Method 3: Decimal Comparison

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

Since 0.25 is less than 0.7, we confirm that \(\frac{1}{4} < \frac{7}{10}\). In percentage terms, \(\frac{1}{4}\) is 25% and \(\frac{7}{10}\) is 70%, a difference of 45 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 20, we're cutting both quantities into equal-sized pieces. Then 5 pieces vs 14 pieces is a straightforward comparison.