Is 4/9 Bigger Than 1/11?

Method 1: Common Denominators

To compare these fractions, we need a common denominator. The denominators are 9 and 11, and the least common denominator (LCD) is 99.

• Step 1. Convert \(\frac{4}{9}\): multiply numerator and denominator by 11.
  \[\frac{4}{9} = \frac{4 \times 11}{9 \times 11} = \frac{44}{99}\]
• Step 2. Convert \(\frac{1}{11}\): multiply numerator and denominator by 9.
  \[\frac{1}{11} = \frac{1 \times 9}{11 \times 9} = \frac{9}{99}\]
• Step 3. Compare the numerators: 44 vs 9.
• Step 4. Since 44 is greater than 9, we know that \(\frac{4}{9} > \frac{1}{11}\).

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: \(4 \times 11 = 44\).
• Step 2. Multiply the numerator of the second fraction by the denominator of the first: \(1 \times 9 = 9\).
• Step 3. Compare the products: \(44 > 9\), so \(\frac{4}{9} > \frac{1}{11}\).

Method 3: Decimal Comparison

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

Since 0.444444 is greater than 0.090909, we confirm that \(\frac{4}{9} > \frac{1}{11}\). In percentage terms, \(\frac{4}{9}\) is 44.4444% and \(\frac{1}{11}\) is 9.0909%, a difference of 35.3535 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 99, we're cutting both quantities into equal-sized pieces. Then 44 pieces vs 9 pieces is a straightforward comparison.