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Lesson 2 of 5
  • Year 6

Explain how to compare pairs of non-related fractions by comparing to a half

I can explain how to compare pairs of non-related fractions by comparing to a half.

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Lesson 2 of 5
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  • Year 6

Explain how to compare pairs of non-related fractions by comparing to a half

I can explain how to compare pairs of non-related fractions by comparing to a half.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In fractions equivalent to a half, the numerator is half the value of the denominator.
  2. When the numerator is more than half the value of the denominator, the fraction is greater than a half.
  3. When the numerator is less than half the value of the denominator, the fraction is less than a half.

Keywords

  • Proper fraction - A proper fraction is a fraction where the numerator (the top number) is less than the denominator (the bottom number).

  • Order - To order things means to put things into their correct place following a set rule.

Common misconception

Pupils struggle to compare fractions to a half as they mainly consider it in its simplest form.

Encourage pupils to visualise their fractions on a number line. Also spend time thinking about the relationship between the numerator and the denominator in fractions equivalent to one-half and use this generalisation to help moving forward.


To help you plan your year 6 maths lesson on: Explain how to compare pairs of non-related fractions by comparing to a half, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

It would be worthwhile revisiting equivalent fractions for one-half prior to this lesson to enable pupils to compare fractions with different denominators in the lesson more readily.
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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Double 16 is equal to

Correct Answer: 32

Q2.
Tick the largest fraction.

Correct answer: $$ {3} \over {7}$$
$$ {3} \over {8}$$
$$ {3} \over {9}$$
$$ {3} \over {10}$$

Q3.
Half of 500 is

Correct Answer: 250

Q4.
Tick the fractions that represent one half.

Correct answer: $$ {1} \over {2}$$
Correct answer: $$ {2} \over {4}$$
$$ {4} \over {6}$$
Correct answer: $$ {4} \over {8}$$
$$ {10} \over {15}$$

Q5.
Use the correct symbol to compare: $$ {3} \over {6}$$ ___ $$ {4} \over {12}$$

<
Correct answer: >
=

Q6.
Use the correct symbol to compare: $$ {2} \over {6}$$ ___ $$ {3} \over {9}$$

<
>
Correct answer: =

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the relationship between the numerator and the denominator of a fraction that is equivalent to one half?

The numerator is double the size of the denominator.
The denominator is half the size of the numerator.
Correct answer: The denominator is double the size of the numerator.
Correct answer: The denominator is two times the size of the numerator.

Q2.
Tick the fractions that represent one half.

$$ {4} \over {7}$$
Correct answer: $$ {5} \over {10}$$
Correct answer: $$ {10} \over {20}$$
$$ {20} \over {10}$$
$$ {1} \over {5}$$

Q3.
Tick the fractions greater than one half.

$$ {3} \over {12}$$
$$ {2} \over {4}$$
Correct answer: $$ {4} \over {7}$$
Correct answer: $$ {5} \over {9}$$
Correct answer: $$ {2} \over {3}$$

Q4.
Tick the fractions less than one half.

Correct answer: $$ {1} \over {3}$$
Correct answer: $$ {2} \over {8}$$
$$ {5} \over {6}$$
$$ {4} \over {8}$$
$$ {4} \over {7}$$

Q5.
Order the fractions from largest to smallest.

1 - $$ {3} \over {10} $$
2 - $$ {1} \over {2}$$
3 - $$ {4} \over {7}$$

Q6.
Tick the fractions that would fit in the equation.

An image in a quiz
Correct answer: $$ {3} \over {6}$$
$$ {1} \over {10}$$
Correct answer: $$ {6} \over {12}$$
$$ {15} \over {16}$$