FractionReference

Compare two fractions

Which is larger, and by how much — settled by cross multiplication, shown on the line.

Common questions

How do I tell which of two fractions is larger?
Cross multiply: for 5/8 vs 2/3, compare 5 × 3 = 15 with 2 × 8 = 16. The side with the larger product is the larger fraction, so 2/3 is larger than 5/8. No division, no rounding.
Why not just compare the decimals?
Rounded decimals can lie about closeness — two different fractions can round to the same digits. Cross multiplication compares the exact values; this page shows the decimals as context, not as the verdict.
What is a common denominator for?
It makes the comparison visible: over 24ths, 5/8 is 15/24 and 2/3 is 16/24, and 16 beats 15. Same verdict as cross multiplication, in a form you can see on a ruler.
Where this comes from. Exact rational arithmetic on the values shown — fractions are pairs of integers until display, and inch–metric conversion uses 25.4 mm to the inch, exact by definition since 1959. See the full methodology.