In order to determine which is bigger, 1/2 or 1/4, we can visually compare the two fractions. If we divide a circle into two pieces, and another into four, we can compare and see that 1/2 is larger than 1/4.
We could also divide 1 by 2 to get 0.50. Then we divide 1 by 4 and we get 0.25. This also allows us to see that 1/2 is a larger fraction than 1/4.
The benefit of using a calculator to change the fraction to a decimal (or you could do it by hand) is that it works on fractions that are similar. For example, 4/11 and 5/12.
Either way, the fraction 1/2 is greater than the fraction 1/4.
