equivalent

Equivalent fractions with a Fraction Wall

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Screen Shot 2014-03-03 at 2.49.00 PM

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This week we will continue making our fraction wall and learning how to calculate equivalent fractions. Using your fraction wall, find equivalent fractions for the following: 1/2 (one half); 1/3 (one third); 1/4 (one quarter) 2/3 (two thirds) and 3/4 (three quarters). What are some other equivalent fractions that are “off the scale” – using fifteenths, sixteenths, twentieths or hundredths?

To add or subtract fractions we need to make sure they have the same denominator (bottom number). We can convert fractions so that they have the same denominator by multiplying both the numerator and the denominator by the same number. This interactive from NLVM helps to compare fractions and create fractions with the same denominator.

Here are some links to sites for learning more about fractions:

Adding and subtracting fractions

brittgow

Image is a screenshot from the Cool Math 4 Kids site.

When adding or subtracting fractions the first thing you need to do is make sure that the denominators (bottom numbers) are the same. If all the denominators are the same you can simply add or subtract the numerators (top numbers) and then simplify the answer if required. If the denominators are different, you need to find a common multiple and convert both fractions, so that the denominators are the same. Activities 4 and 5 below show how this is done:

1. Adding Fractions from Cool Maths 4 Kids.

2. Three simple steps to adding fractions from “Maths is Fun”.

3. BBC Bitesize – fractions activities – Choose the fractions activities from BBC Bitesize (Equivalent fractions and ordering and comparing fractions).

4. Adding fractions with different denominators from “Maths Playground”.

5. Adding fractions with different denominators from YouTube – Maths Made Simple Series.