Comparing Continued Fractions

Suppose $0 < a < b$. Which of the following continued fractions is bigger and why?

$$\frac{1}{2+\frac{1}{3+\frac{1}{a}}}$$ or $$\frac{1}{2+\frac{1}{3+\frac{1}{b}}}$$

Suppose the fractions are continued in the same way, then which is the bigger in the following pair and why?

$$\frac{1}{2+\frac{1}{3+\frac{1}{4+\frac{1}{a}}}}$$

or the same thing with b in place of a.

Now compare: $${1\over\displaystyle 2 + { 1 \over \displaystyle 3+ { 1\over \displaystyle 4 + \dots + {1\over\displaystyle 99+ {1\over \displaystyle {100 + {1 \over \displaystyle a}} }}}}}$$

and the same thing with $b$ in place of $a$.