diff --git a/Algebraic_foundations/include/CGAL/number_utils.h b/Algebraic_foundations/include/CGAL/number_utils.h
index d29434ad603..7195f057cef 100644
--- a/Algebraic_foundations/include/CGAL/number_utils.h
+++ b/Algebraic_foundations/include/CGAL/number_utils.h
@@ -324,6 +324,36 @@ NT approximate_sqrt(const NT& nt)
   return approximate_sqrt(nt, Sqrt());
 }
 
+template <class NT>
+Comparison_result
+compare(const NT& xnum, const NT& xden,
+        const NT& ynum, const NT& yden)
+{
+  // No assumptions on the sign of  den  are made
+
+  // code assumes that SMALLER == - 1;
+  CGAL_precondition( SMALLER == static_cast<Comparison_result>(-1) );
+
+  int xsign =  sign(xnum) *  sign(xden) ;
+  int ysign =  sign(ynum) *  sign(yden) ;
+  if (xsign == 0) return static_cast<Comparison_result>(-ysign);
+  if (ysign == 0) return static_cast<Comparison_result>(xsign);
+  // now (x != 0) && (y != 0)
+  int diff = xsign - ysign;
+  if (diff == 0)
+    {
+      int msign =  sign(xden) *  sign(yden);
+      NT leftop  = NT(xnum * yden * msign);
+      NT rightop = NT(ynum * xden * msign);
+      return  compare(leftop, rightop);
+    }
+  else
+    {
+      return (xsign < ysign) ? SMALLER : LARGER;
+    }
+}
+
+
 CGAL_NTS_END_NAMESPACE
 } //namespace CGAL