Getting partial to fractions
In this unit students partition a length model into equal parts, to create unit fractions. Students form non-unit fractions (e.g. 3/4 and 7/8) and develop strategies to find different names for the same fraction (equivalent fractions). Fractions are added and compared to find the difference and a fraction of a length is determined. Finally, a length model is used to find a fraction of a whole number amount.
About this resource
Specific learning outcomes:
- Find equivalent fractions.
- Compare the size of fractions to order them.
- Find the difference between two fractions by subtraction.
- Add fractions.
- Find a fraction of a whole number amount.
Getting partial to fractions
Achievement objectives
NA4-2: Understand addition and subtraction of fractions, decimals, and integers.
NA4-3: Find fractions, decimals, and percentages of amounts expressed as whole numbers, simple fractions, and decimals.
Description of mathematics
Fractions are an extension of whole numbers and integers. Fractions are needed when wholes (ones) are not adequate for a task. Mathematically the need for rational numbers comes from division. Division often requires equal partitioning of ones. Sharing two chocolate bars equally among five people requires that the bars be cut into smaller equal parts. The operation might be recorded as 2 ÷ 5 = 2/5. Note that the number two fifths, is composed of two units of one fifth. In practical terms the equal share can occur by dividing each of the two bars into fifths, then giving each person one fifth from each bar.
If the bar was made up of ten pieces then each person might be given two tenths from each bar, giving them four tenths in total. Four tenths are the same quantity of chocolate as two fifths. Any fraction can be expressed as an infinite number of equivalent fractions that represent the same quantity.
Fractions are very important to measurement. The presence of fractions is often masked by the fact that most measurements are expressed as decimals. Suppose your height is 1.78 metres. Metre lengths are the whole (ones) in this representation of quantity. Whole metres are inadequate for most length-related measurement tasks. So equal parts of metres are used to achieve greater precision.
The decimal system uses repeated equal division into ten parts to create smaller units. Dividing one metre into ten equal parts creates deci-metres, a unit that is used in Europe but seldom in New Zealand. A decimetre is one tenth of a metre. If one decimetre is cut into ten equal parts, the parts are called centimetres. That is because 100 centimetres compose one metre (one tenth of one tenth equals one hundredth). A height of 1.78 metres is a combination of 1 whole metre, 7 tenths of one metre, and 8 hundredths of one metre.
Addition and subtraction require quantities that are expressed in the same unit. With whole numbers, quantities are always expressed using units of one. With fractions the units can be different, e.g. 2/5 + 1/2 = ?. Two fifths are made up of two units of one fifth, that are different in size to halves. A standard method is to rename the fractions so they share a common denominator. Two fifths equal four tenths (2/5 = 4/10) and one half equals five tenths (1/2 = 5/10) Since four tenths and five tenths share the same unit they can be combined to make nine tenths (4/10 + 5/10 = 9/10).
Fractions are numbers that behave in the same way as whole numbers, albeit with more complexity. The properties of addition and multiplication that hold for whole numbers also hold for fractions. To find a fraction of another amount is to treat the fraction as an operator. For example, three quarters of 24 is represented symbolically as 3/4 x 24, with three quarters operating on 24 as a multiplier or scalar.
Opportunities for adaptation and differentiation
Students can be supported through the learning opportunities in this unit by differentiating the nature and complexity of the tasks, and by adapting the contexts. Ways to support students include:
- Vary the level of abstraction. Materials, mostly paper strips, are used throughout the unit as physical references. Encouraging students to experiment to find out what happens with quantities and to generalise what happens is the first step towards abstract thinking. Through predictive questioning, encourage students to reason with diagrammatic representations and symbols, noting relationships among the parts of fraction symbols.
- Alter the complexity of the numbers involved or the relationships between numerators and denominators. Fractions that involve repeated halving, such as halves, quarters, eighths, etc., are much easier to work with than other fractions. Thirding, fifthing, seventhing, and so on, are more complicated as the relationships between numerators and denominators are more complex; for example, 2/3 = ?/21.
- Allow the use of scientific calculators that can process fractions. Do so in a predictive way. Ask students to anticipate the result of a physical action or symbolic manipulation, then confirm the result with a calculator. If the prediction disagrees with the calculator answer, find out why that occurs. Students benefit by folding back from a symbolic answer to a physical model. Calculators are also useful for establishing patterns in symbolic forms, for example. What is the same about all fractions equivalent to 3/4?
Adaptation involves changing the contexts used for problems to meet the interests and cultural backgrounds of your students. Where contexts such as food and computer games may not be appropriate for your students, find other situations likely to engage them. For example, points earned on a computer could be reframed as points earned in a Kapa Haka performance or talent quest. You might find contexts familiar to your students, such as fractions of journeys in familiar locations (Getting partial to fractions 3 (.pdf)).
Required materials
- strips of paper, rulers, scissors
- interlocking cubes (optional)
See Materials that come with this resource to download:
- Getting partial to fractions 1 (.pdf, .pptx, .mp4)
- Getting partial to fractions 2 (.pdf, .pptx, .mp4)
- Getting partial to fractions 3 (.pdf, .pptx, .mp4)
Activity
This session begins with a lesson created by distinguished Canadian mathematics educator, Thomas Kieren. You will need many strips of paper that are the same length as a standard ruler (30 cm). Also have a strip that is 48 cm long but has the same width.
1.
Begin by asking the students how a strip might be folded in half to make two halves. This will seem trivial, as symmetry is natural.
- How do I know that these parts are halves? (Equal parts; all the strip is used in two parts)
2.
Provide a couple of non-examples by folding other strips into parts that are not equal or where not all of the strip is used.
- What is true if the parts are truly halves?
Look for students to say that one is cut into two equal parts. Fold a 48 cm strip into halves.
- Are these parts halves? Why are they a different size from the other halves?
The important point is that the unit of one determines the size of the halves. Use the half strips to draw two different number lines to represent the relationship of one half to one whole.
3.
We are working with fractions as numbers. To do this, we need to think of all ones as being the same size. That is very important.
- Where would the fraction 2/2 (or two halves) be on the number line?
- Where would the fraction 5/2 (or five halves) be on the number line?
The important point is that non-unit fractions are located by repeatedly joining unit fractions. Five halves are made of five units of one half.
4.
Set your students the task of investigating fractions using the paper strips:
- You all know how to fold a strip of paper into two equal parts and call those parts halves. How can you fold one strip into three equal parts?
- How can you fold one strip into five equal parts?
5.
Let your students experiment with developing an equal partitioning method for thirds and fifths. Share their strategies. Students might:
- Use a ruler to measure the length of the strip, then use division to create equal parts. (Is it possible to fold the parts without measuring?)
- Use one half as a benchmark, knowing that thirds are smaller than halves and fifths are smaller again. (Why are thirds smaller than halves?)
- Overlap the strip as they fold it to produce three or five equal parts.
6.
- Discuss: If we can fold into halves, thirds, and fifths, what other fractions can we make by combining these folds?
7.
Demonstrate folding into half, then half again.
- What fraction parts have I made?
8.
Let your students explore combinations of folds for a prolonged period of time. Stress the importance of labelling the parts that are made and recording the folds that were used.
9.
After a suitable time, share the result of the investigation. Of most interest is how the result of repeated folding can be anticipated. For example:
- If you halve first, then third, what fraction parts do you make? (sixths)
- Does it matter if you change the order of folding to thirding and then halving? (No)
- How can you record your folding? For example, 1/3 x 1/2 = 1/6. Note that x means "of" as in "one third of one half".
10.
Demonstrate how strip fractions can be used to create a number line: line up several strips that have been folded to show different fractions, and mark the folded fractions onto one number line. Ask your students to form their own number line, locating fractions of their choice. Encourage them to include some fractions greater than one. Make sure that the students collect their fraction pieces in an old envelope for later use.
1.
Today we will explore equivalent fractions.
- What do you think the word equivalent means?
From everyday life, students may know that equivalents are the same, for example, equivalent amounts, equivalent methods, equivalent ingredients or medications.
2.
Have students put these fractions in order from smallest to largest.
You may need to make each fraction using a student’s strips from the previous session.
3.
Ensure that students understand that these fractions are all on the same spot as one on the number line.
- What other fractions also equal one?
- What is the same about all fractions that equal one? (The numerator and denominator are the same)
4.
Provide the students with copies of page one of Getting partial to fractions 1 (.pdf). Alternatively, you could use commercial fraction strips if you have them.
- What equivalent fractions can you see on this page?
Students should notice that there are three fractions equivalent to one half. Record their observations as an equality, 1/2 = 2/4 = 3/6 = 4/8.
- Imagine that tenths and twelfths were on the sheet. What equivalent fractions for one half could you find?
Students might notice other equivalents to one third and two thirds (1/3 = 2/6 and 2/3 = 4/6) and one quarter and three quarters (1/4 = 2/8 and 3/4 = 6/8).
- The fifths do not seem useful for finding equivalent fractions. Why is that?
- Do you notice any patterns in the equations?
Students are likely to notice the doubling of both the numerator and denominator without fully appreciating why that occurs; for example, 1/2 = 2/4 = 4/8.
5.
Provide the students with page two of Getting partial to fractions 1 and get them to work through it:
- Find as many examples of equivalent fractions as you can using Getting partial to fractions 1 .You may need to cut out some strips so you can move them around.
Record what you find as equations and drawings.
6.
Give your students an extended amount of time to find examples and record them. Look for your students to:
- show understanding that non-unit fractions are combinations of unit fractions
- identify fraction pairs that might be equivalent by using their multiplication knowledge
- notice relationships between the numerators and denominators of equivalent fractions, for example, doubling/halving, trebling/thirding, etc.
7.
After a suitable period, bring the class together to discuss how all the possible equivalent pairs can be found. A systematic method is to begin with the smallest denominators (largest pieces) and work down Getting partial to fractions 1 n sequence. Record the results in order:
- Halves:
- Thirds:
- Quarters (excluding fractions with halves and thirds):
- etc ...
8.
Students might forget to include equivalent fractions for zero and one:
- Is there a way to anticipate if fractions are equivalent, without using fraction pieces?
9.
Students are most likely to identify the relationships between numerators and denominators. You might record some examples:
10.
It is important for students to understand the reason why the patterns occur. Make sure that a strip model of each equivalence is available, and support students to relate symbols to quantities. For example, for the equivalence 4/5 = 8/10:
- When four is doubled to give eight, what does this mean? (There are twice as many parts in eight tenths, than there are in four fifths)
- When five is doubled to give ten, what does this mean? (There are twice as many tenths in one as there are fifths. Tenths are half the size of fifths)
11.
Look at Videos Getting partial to fractions 1 (.mp4), Getting partial to fractions 2 (.mp4) and Getting partial to fractions 3 (.mp4). For each video, ask your students to fold and shade paper strips, as directed. Discuss the final questions:
- What fraction part can you see?
- How many of those parts are shaded?
- Which two fractions have you found to be equivalent?
12.
Finally, begin with folding and shading a non-unit fraction, like three fifths or two thirds.
- If you fold the fifths/thirds in half, what sized parts do we make?
- How many of the pieces are shaded?
- How do you write an equation to represent what we’ve found?
- What happens if you fold the fifths/thirds into other numbers of parts? What equivalent fractions can you make?
- Can you make fifths into hundredths? How? What about thirds?
13.
Finish the session with this challenge:
Put these fractions in order from smallest to largest.
Ask students to solve the problem first then check their answer using fraction strips. Have them explain their strategy to a classmate.
In this session, students explore ordering fractions and finding the difference between two fractions. Differences can be found either by subtraction or by adding on. Students should come to understand that both strategies yield the same result. The length model is used again.
1.
Begin with this problem (Using Getting partial to fractions 1):
- Which is more, one third or one half of the same submarine sandwich?
- How much more?
2.
Ask students to anticipate the difference between the fractions, one half and one third. They can check their answer using fraction strips, or you can use slide two of the PowerPoint to illustrate the difference of one sixth.
- Why is the difference one sixth?
Students should notice that 2 x 3 = 6, the connection between the denominators. However, the important understanding is that sixths work because both fractions can be renamed into equivalent fractions with that common denominator.
- How many sixths is one half equivalent to?
- How many sixths is one third equivalent to?
- Could we use twelfths instead? What would be the difference, then?
- The difference can be one sixth or two twelfths. Is it strange to get different answers?
Students should notice that one sixth and two twelfths are equivalent fractions, so both answers are different names for the same number. Slide three shows different ways the problem can be expressed as an equation. Discuss what each equation means, for example, "One third and how much more equals one half?"
3.
Move on to the other problems in Getting partial to fractions 1. The problems get more complex as the difficulty of renaming increases. Let your students work in small groups to solve the problems in the most efficient way they can. Allow access to fraction strips to check answers and justify why the answers are correct.
4.
After the four examples, hold a short plenary about finding the differences by subtraction.
- I have a new problem.
- What is the difference between two thirds and five eighths of the same submarine sandwich?
- Where should I start?
Students should suggest that a common denominator is needed because the parts are different sizes.
- What common denominator will work?
Hopefully, students will suggest 24 using 3 x 8.
- Can two thirds be renamed as so many twenty fourths? How many?
- Can five eighths be renamed as so many twenty fourths? How many?
5.
Capture their ideas in symbolic form to create a ‘paradigm example’ of how to subtract fractions.
6.
Provide your students with Getting partial to fractions 2 and ask them to work individually or in pairs to solve the problems. Access to fraction strips will provide some support for students, though some differences are outside the range of the fraction pieces. Look for your students to:
- recognise that differences can be found by subtraction or by adding on
- know that common denominators are needed if the denominators of the two fractions are not equal
- rename one or both fractions as equivalent fractions to enable subtraction;
- systematically record their calculations, as above;
- represent part-whole relationships as fractions in Question 2, for example, 120/160 = 3/4;
- recognise that pie charts are proportional representations of frequency data and that comparisons of categories can be made using fractional differences.
7.
After a suitable time, gather the class to discuss their solutions. Emphasise the relationship between difference and subtraction, and the importance of applying equivalent fractions with common denominators.
In this session, students explore how to add fractions. They learn to recognise when one or both fractions in an addition operation need to be renamed.
1.
Use Getting partial to fractions 2 to introduce this problem:
- Tieri’s parents pay for two credits each week so she can play her favourite computer game.
- She is careful not to use up all her credits in one day.
- On Saturday, Tieri used up three-quarters of a credit. She used another three quarters of a credit on Sunday.
- How much credit does she have left for the rest of the week?
2.
Let your students work out the answers in pairs, then share strategies with the class. Use the fraction strips made in earlier sessions to model the strategies students suggest. Possible strategies might include:
- subtracting three quarters from each full credit, leaving two lots of one quarter of a credit. The two quarters can be added to make one half
- adding three quarters to three quarters to get six quarters. Six quarters equals one and one half, so there will be one half left from two whole credits
- naming two as eight quarters and subtracting 8 – 3 = 5, 5 – 3 = 2, to work out that two quarters of a credit are left.
3.
- Ask: What was it about the fractions in this problem that made it reasonably easy to solve?
Students might note that only quarters were involved. Change Tieri’s computer credit scenario to five eighths plus one quarter (slide three of Getting partial to fractions 2. Let your students solve the problem in pairs. Watch out for incorrect strategies such as adding numerators and denominators; for example, 5/8 + 2/8 = 7/16. Use a strip model to represent the problem, and use that model to address problems your students have.
4.
Discuss how changing the fractions affected the students’ strategies. Look for students to highlight that the fractions had different denominators and could not be combined in the same way that three quarters and three quarters were. In this case, one quarter can be renamed as two eighths, and then the fractions can be added. Record and ask:
- How many credits does Tieri have left? (nine eighths, which equals one and one eighth)
Knowing that fractions can only be added if they refer to the same sized parts is very important. The denominators must be the same.
5.
Progress to slides four and five of Getting partial to fractions 2, which have these problems:
- Imagine a week in which Tieri uses up two thirds of a credit on Saturday and one half of a credit on Sunday.
- How much credit does she have left for the rest of the week?
- In a week of the school holidays, Tieri uses up four fifths of a credit on Saturday and three quarters of a credit on Sunday.
- How much credit does she have left for the rest of the week?
6.
Tell the students that they need to be able to justify why their answer is correct using fraction strips as evidence. Look for students to:
- Recognise that the fractions have different denominators and cannot be added in that form, for example, 2/3 + 1/2 ≠ 3/5;
- Rename each fraction with a denominator that is in common, preferably sixths for the first problem, though twelfths will work as well;
- Model the equivalence of 2/3 = 4/6 and 1/2 = 3/6 with materials for the first problem;
- Model the equivalence of 4/5 = 16/20 and 3/4 = 15/20 with materials for the second problem;
- Record the operation in an efficient way, for example, 4/5 + 3/4 = 16/20 + 15/20 = 31/20.
- Find the credits Tieri has left by renaming two in terms of the common denominator.
7.
To practise addition of fractions, students can work cooperatively on Getting partial to fractions 3. They may use fraction strips to support them, if needed, but ask predictive questions to encourage anticipation of the result, such as:
- Will the credits used add up to less than one or more than one? How do you know?
- What common denominator(s) will work? How do you know?
In this session, students learn to distinguish between problems in which fractions are treated as measures (numbers), and problems in which the fraction operates on another number. Rational numbers, which fractions are a subset, conform to the same properties as whole numbers when operated with (added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided). Recognition of that conformity is a critical transfer for students at level four.
1.
Begin with the problem on slide one of Getting partial to fractions 3. The Elise and Harry scenario is, "Two thirds of Elise’s pocket money equals three quarters of Harry’s pocket money."
- How is this possible?
- Who gets more pocket money each week, Elise or Harry? How do you know?
2.
Challenge your students to find large amounts of pocket money for Elise and Harry that would make the scenario true. Allow the students time to explore and record possible amounts. For example, if Elise and Harry both spend $12, how much do they earn each? $12 is two thirds of what Elise earns, so she gets $18. $12 is three quarters of what Harry earns, so he gets $16.
3.
As a class, discuss a generalised way to find a fraction of another quantity. For example, three quarters of $12 can be written as 3/4 x 12 = 9. Students often do not connect the meaning of x in whole number multiplication with its meaning, "of", as in "three sets of four."
4.
Organise the solution data in a table, such as:
Elise’s weekly pocket money (e) |
Harry’s weekly pocket money (h) |
---|---|
$18 |
$16 |
$81 |
$72 |
$45 |
$40 |
$9 |
$8 |
etc. |
etc. |
5.
- Ask: Do you see any patterns in the table?
Students might notice that Elise’s amounts are multiples of nine and Harry’s amounts are multiples of eight.
- What operations change Elise’s amounts into Harry’s amounts?
- Try dividing Elise’s amounts by nine. What do you notice?
Students might see that dividing Elise’s amounts by nine and then multiplying the result by eight gives Harry’s amount. High-achieving students can be encouraged to express that relationship algebraically (8/9 e = h or e = 9/8 h).
6.
Work through the other slides in Getting partial to fractions 3 (.pptx) to support students in developing an algorithm for multiplying a fraction by a whole number. With each problem, record the calculation; for example, 4/5 x 15 = (15 ÷ 5) x 4.
7.
Provide the students with paper strips and rulers. Cutting an A3 sheet lengthwise with a width of 2 cm is a good size for a strip. The final slide of Getting partial to fractions 3 has three challenges for students to solve individually or in small groups. Look for students to:
- Recognise that the common denominator for thirds and eighths is twenty fourths, so make the strip a multiple of 24cm long (Challenge One);
- Recognise that equivalent fractions of the same length are at the same location (Challenge Two);
- Accept that neither the length of the whole nor what fraction of this length is at 18cm are known, but work with the scenario to identify these variables. For example, if 18 cm is one quarter, then the whole strip is 4 x 18 = 72 cm long.
Home link
Kia ora parents and whānau,
This week we are exploring fractions as numbers and as operators. We will be using lengths to find equivalent fractions, add and subtract fractions, and find a fraction of an amount. You might look for examples in real life where fractions of a length are found, such as cutting a length of wood into equal parts or breaking a long trip up into equal parts.
Talk to your child about what they are learning. They could show you what they have learnt about fractions using paper strips at home.
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