NCERT Solutions for Class 5th Maths Chapter 2 Comparing fractions using 1/2 wherever possible — Let Us Do
Book page 31 Updated on2026-09-19
Q1.
Compare the following fractions. Where possible, compare the fractions with 1/2. 2/9 and 4/7 · 11/14 and 7/20 · 5/7 and 3/9 · 6/7 and 4/10 · 9/17 and 3/15 · 7/12 and 3/11 · 1/3 and 5/9 · 3/9 and 4/7
Answer
Test each fraction against 1/2 by doubling its top number. Every pair here has one fraction below half and one above half, so the comparison is settled at once.
Pair
First fraction vs 1/2
Second fraction vs 1/2
Answer
2/9 and 4/7
2 × 2 = 4 < 9 → less than 1/2
4 × 2 = 8 > 7 → more than 1/2
2/9 < 4/7
11/14 and 7/20
11 × 2 = 22 > 14 → more than 1/2
7 × 2 = 14 < 20 → less than 1/2
11/14 > 7/20
5/7 and 3/9
5 × 2 = 10 > 7 → more than 1/2
3 × 2 = 6 < 9 → less than 1/2
5/7 > 3/9
6/7 and 4/10
6 × 2 = 12 > 7 → more than 1/2
4 × 2 = 8 < 10 → less than 1/2
6/7 > 4/10
9/17 and 3/15
9 × 2 = 18 > 17 → more than 1/2
3 × 2 = 6 < 15 → less than 1/2
9/17 > 3/15
7/12 and 3/11
7 × 2 = 14 > 12 → more than 1/2
3 × 2 = 6 < 11 → less than 1/2
7/12 > 3/11
1/3 and 5/9
1 × 2 = 2 < 3 → less than 1/2
5 × 2 = 10 > 9 → more than 1/2
1/3 < 5/9
3/9 and 4/7
3 × 2 = 6 < 9 → less than 1/2
4 × 2 = 8 > 7 → more than 1/2
3/9 < 4/7
1/2 is a fence in the middle of the number line, just as 1 was a fence before.
Notice how close some are. 9/17 is only a whisker above half (half of 17 is 8 1/2) and 8/15 in the earlier exercise was only a whisker above half too. Always do the doubling; a picture alone can trick you.