How do you figure out which goes on the top and bottom?

[aaronhma]

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For example, is $\frac{3}{2}$ correct or $\frac{2}{3}$ correct or do they both mean the same thing? Also, is their a general strategy for this? Thanks

[aaronhma]

[This post is deleted]

[audrey]

@aaronhma So basically, we know the length of the photograph is 6 and the width is 4.

The first question to ask is, how many "times" bigger is the length than the width? Or in math terms, we want to figure out x where

6 = (x)*4. (length = (x)*width)

To solve this, you can divide both sides of the equation by 4.

6/4 = x.

And notice that 6/4 = 3/2. So, the length is 3/2 times the width. (You can double check: 3/2 times the width = (3/2)(4) = 12/2 = 6 = length!)

I hope this helped explain how you'd know which number is the numerator and which is the denominator! As for a general strategy, I'm not sure there is one except to first think about what you want in words, and then carefully convert those words to math. Let me know if I can clarify something!

[aaronhma]

@audrey Thanks for the explanation!

[audrey]

@aaronhma No problem!