Analyze the fractions to be compared and ordered, by category:
positive proper fractions: 20/38, 14/19
1 positive improper fraction: 18/16
How to compare and sort the fractions in ascending order, by categories:
- any positive proper fraction is smaller than...
- any positive improper fraction.
Simplify the operation
Reduce (simplify) the fractions to their lowest terms equivalents:
- To reduce a fraction to the lowest terms equivalent: divide both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor, GCF.
The fraction: 20/38
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 20 = 22 × 5
- 38 = 2 × 19
- Multiply all the common prime factors: if there are repeating prime factors we only take them once, and only the ones having the lowest exponent (the lowest powers).
- GCF (20; 38) = 2
20/38 = (20 ÷ 2)/(38 ÷ 2) = 10/19
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
20/38 = (22 × 5)/(2 × 19) = ((22 × 5) ÷ 2)/((2 × 19) ÷ 2) = 10/19
The fraction: 14/19
14/19 is already reduced to the lowest terms.
The numerator and denominator have no common prime factors:
- 14 = 2 × 7
- 19 is a prime number.
- GCF (14; 19) = 1
In fact, the two fractions have equal denominators
The denominator of one of the reduced fractions is equal to the denominator of the other initial fraction:
10/19 and 14/19
The fractions have the same denominator, compare their numerators.
This is one of the simplest cases when it comes to comparing and sorting fractions.
The larger the numerator the larger the positive fraction.
The larger the numerator the smaller the negative fraction.