Fractions: What They Mean, and Equivalent Forms

Fractions = Parts “taken” Total (=) Parts in a Whole “A whole” One out of two parts

Fractions = Parts “taken” Total (=) Parts in a Whole “A whole” One out of three parts

Fractions = Parts “taken” Total (=) Parts in a Whole “A whole” Two out of three parts So any time the numerator (top) is smaller than the denominator (bottom), the fraction has a value lower than 1.

Fractions on a Number Line 1

Equivalent Fractions Four out of six parts Two out of three parts is identical to If each part of the whole is cut in two, we see why.

Equivalent Fractions We make equivalent fractions by multiplying the numerator and denominator of any fraction BY THE SAME NUMBER. Ex: Find a fraction equivalent to that has an 12 in the denominator. Sneaky form of 1

Equivalent Fractions Four out of six parts Two out of three parts is identical to If pairs of small parts are considered bigger parts, we see why.

Equivalent Fractions We can also make equivalent fractions by dividing the numerator and denominator of a fraction by the SAME NUMBER. Ex: Reduce to lowest terms. Sneaky form of 1

Comparing Fractions > Unit fractions can be compared by looking at the denominators… …the bigger the denominator, the smaller the fraction. >

Comparing Fractions > Non-Unit fractions can be compared by a few different ways, for now, we’ll give them the same denominators. In that condition, the smaller the numerator, the smaller the value. >