Is 5/7 Bigger Than 1/10?

Method 1: Common Denominators

To compare these fractions, we need a common denominator. The denominators are 7 and 10, and the least common denominator (LCD) is 70.

• Step 1. Convert \(\frac{5}{7}\): multiply numerator and denominator by 10.
  \[\frac{5}{7} = \frac{5 \times 10}{7 \times 10} = \frac{50}{70}\]
• Step 2. Convert \(\frac{1}{10}\): multiply numerator and denominator by 7.
  \[\frac{1}{10} = \frac{1 \times 7}{10 \times 7} = \frac{7}{70}\]
• Step 3. Compare the numerators: 50 vs 7.
• Step 4. Since 50 is greater than 7, we know that \(\frac{5}{7} > \frac{1}{10}\).

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: \(5 \times 10 = 50\).
• Step 2. Multiply the numerator of the second fraction by the denominator of the first: \(1 \times 7 = 7\).
• Step 3. Compare the products: \(50 > 7\), so \(\frac{5}{7} > \frac{1}{10}\).

Method 3: Decimal Comparison

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

Since 0.714286 is greater than 0.1, we confirm that \(\frac{5}{7} > \frac{1}{10}\). In percentage terms, \(\frac{5}{7}\) is 71.4286% and \(\frac{1}{10}\) is 10%, a difference of 61.4286 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 70, we're cutting both quantities into equal-sized pieces. Then 50 pieces vs 7 pieces is a straightforward comparison.