Comparing unit fractions

A unit fraction has a 1 on the top of the fraction.
The number on the top is called the numerator. So a unit fraction means a fraction with 1 as the numerator. (You can find the word numerator in the Glossary.)

These are examples of unit fractions: , , , ,

In a unit fraction the larger the number on the bottom the smaller the value of the fraction.

For example, the fraction is smaller than
You can see this by looking at this part of the fraction wall

For the same reason is larger than
You can see this from the fraction wall too

Ordering unit fractions

If you have many unit fractions you can put them in order of value by comparing the numbers on the bottom, called the denominators. (Denominator is in the Glossary.)
Warning: This only works for unit fractions. So first check that they all have a numerator of 1

Example Put the following in order with the largest first

The measuring jugs are full to fractions of a whole jug. The amounts in each jug are
                 
Putting the jugs in order we get

So you can read the fractions from them now in order, largest first
                 
From this you can see that the unit fraction with the largest number on the bottom is the smallest in value.

Example Put the following in order of value, smallest first

, , , , ,

These are all unit fractions. So the bigger the number on the bottom the smaller the value of the fraction. The question asks for the smallest first so start with the fractions with the biggest number on the bottom.

Answer This is the correct order, smallest first
< < < < <
The symbol < means less than.