Mathematics 8 Support Fraction Meanings

Meanings of Fractions MeaningExample Record the meaning here Draw an example here Record special notes about the meaning here

Part of a Whole the result when the whole or unit is partitioned into equal-sized parts

Part of a Whole Sharing tasks promote developmental understanding for part of a whole. The parts into which the whole is divided are equal but do not need to be identical. Fraction parts do not have to be adjacent.

Meanings of Fractions Part of a WholeExample the result when the whole or unit is partitioned into equal- sized parts Sharing tasks promote developmental understanding for part of a whole. The parts into which the whole is divided are equal but do not need to be identical. Fraction parts do not have to be adjacent.

Parts of a Set the result when a group or a collection of things is partitioned

Parts of a Set The members of the set do not have to be identical. Containing or enclosing the set helps students see the set as one unit.

Part of a Measure involves associating marks on measuring devices, such as rulers, with fraction names

Part of a Measure This is the most abstract of the first three meanings but the most useful for the teaching of computational skills.

Can be Used to Name a Ratio a comparison between two quantities that may or may not involve different units

Can be Used to Name a Ratio A ratio is a numerical relationship A fraction used to name a ratio may or may not involve wholes, groups or the name for a point (measure). It involves making a comparison.

An Indicated Division the symbolic form of a fraction is seen as the quotient of 2 integers with the fraction bar as a signal to divide

Can be Used as an Operator to operate on a unit (e.g. of 12)

Can be Used as an Operator A misconception that often occurs is that students think that multiplication “always makes bigger” and division “always makes smaller”.

Write about or draw to illustrate each of the meanings.