Which Fraction is Bigger

In a fraction like $\frac{1}{4}$, the bottom number is called the denominator. Think of the denominator as the 'Slicer.' It tells us how many equal pieces we cut the whole into. Here is the secret: the bigger the denominator, the smaller each piece becomes! If you share a pie with 2 people, you get a huge slice. If you share it with 100 people, you only get a tiny crumb. Even though 100 is a bigger number than 2, the fraction $\frac{1}{100}$ is much smaller than $\frac{1}{2}$.

What happens when the denominators are the same? This is much easier! If the bottom numbers are the same, the pieces are all the same size. Now, we just look at the numerator (the top number). The numerator is the 'Counter.' It tells us how many pieces we actually have. If the pieces are the same size, having more pieces is always better. For example, $\frac{3}{4}$ is more than $\frac{1}{4}$ because $3$ pieces are more than $1$ piece.

Sometimes, two fractions look different but represent the exact same amount. These are called equivalent fractions. Imagine a sandwich cut into $2$ halves. If you take $1$ half ($\frac{1}{2}$), you have the same amount of food as someone who takes $2$ quarters ($\frac{2}{4}$) of the same sandwich. Even though the numbers are different, the total amount of 'stuff' is equal!