Equivalent Fractions Mrs. Walker 4th Grade

Vocabulary: Equivalent Fractions Equivalent fractions are fractions that name the same amount. 2 4 = 4 8

Creating Equivalent Fractions Multiply the numerator and denominator by the same number. We can choose any number to multiply by. Let’s multiply by 2. 3 x 2 6 = So, 3/5 is equivalent to 6/10. 5 x 2 10

Creating Equivalent Fractions Divide the numerator and denominator by a common factor. (It has to be a common factor to work with division.) To divide we MUST use a common factor. What number is a common factor of 6 ? 10 6 ÷ 2 3 So, 3/5 is equivalent to 6/10. = 10 ÷ 2 5

Think to yourself… What number can I divide into both 28 and 35? For larger numbers, make equivalent fractions using division. Remember, divide by a common factor. 28 ÷ 7 4 = Think to yourself… What number can I divide into both 28 and 35? 35 ÷ 7 5 In this example, we can divide both numbers by 7. 28/35 is equivalent to 4/5.

Vocabulary: Simplest Form Fractions are in simplest form when the numerator and denominator do not have any common factors besides 1. Examples of fractions that are in simplest form: 4 2 3 5 11 8

Simplify means to reduce a fraction to it’s simplest form. Vocabulary: Simplify Simplify means to reduce a fraction to it’s simplest form.

Writing Fractions in Simplest Form. Find the greatest common factor (GCF) of the numerator and denominator. Divide both numbers by the GCF.

Example: 20 5 ÷ 4 = Simplest Form 28 ÷ 4 7 20 28 20: 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20 We will divide by 4. 28: 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 28 1 x 20 2 x 10 4 x 5 1 x 28 2 x 14 4 x 7 Common Factors: 1, 2, 4 GCF: 4

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