Friendly fractions
This is a level 3 number activity from the Figure It Out series. It is focused on converting fractions to decimals. A PDF of the student activity is included.
About this resource
Figure It Out is a series of 80 books published between 1999 and 2009 to support teaching and learning in New Zealand classrooms.
This resource provides the teachers’ notes and answers for one activity from the Figure It Out series. A printable PDF of the student activity can be downloaded from the materials that come with this resource.
Specific learning outcomes:
- Convert fractions to decimals.
Friendly fractions
Achievement objectives
NA4-5: Know the equivalent decimal and percentage forms for everyday fractions.
Required materials
- Figure It Out, Level 3, Number, Book 1, "Friendly fractions", page 13
- a calculator
See Materials that come with this resource to download:
- Friendly fractions activity (.pdf)
Activity
In this activity, students will learn to use a calculator to convert fractions to decimals. They will also explore fractions equivalent to 1.
Make sure that students understand that 0.5 = 5/10 = 1/2 and that 0.75 = 75/100 = 3/4. Although question 3 is based on the use of whole numbers from 1 to 10, students could explore the basic structure of tenths, hundredths, and thousandths to give them a correct sequence.
For example,
- 1.75 = 175/100 = 7/4 = 13/4.
Have students prove their answers on a calculator.
Question 4 highlights how important it is that students understand equivalent fractions of one whole.
An example would be a pie chart divided into thirds.
Help students to understand that 2/3 means two of the parts that make one whole and 3/3 means three of the three parts that make one whole, so 3/3 is the same as one.
1.
0.5
2.
0.75
3.
a. 1 ÷ 10 =
b. 1 ÷ 4 = or 2 ÷ 8 =
c. 8 ÷ 10 = or 4 ÷ 5 =
d. 1 ÷ 3 = or 2 ÷ 6 =
e. 3 ÷ 2 = or 6 ÷ 4 =
f. 5 ÷ 8 =
g. 2 ÷ 3 = or 4 ÷ 6 =
h. 7 ÷ 4 =
i. 3 ÷ 8 =
j. 1 ÷ 6 =
4.
a. All the fractions equal 1.
b. The top number is the same as the bottom number. A number divided by itself gives 1.
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