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The Important Thing About Fractions

Written by: M. Carlson, K. Frink, C. Castro, S. Pratt and T. Punkiewiez  

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The important thing about fractions is they represent equal parts of a whole or a group.

• The circle has not shaded blue. • The circle has one-fourth not shaded

blue. • The circle has 1 out of 4 equal parts not

shaded blue. • The rectangle has shaded green. • The rectangle has two-thirds shaded

green. • The rectangle has 2 out of 3 parts shaded. But the important thing about

fractions is they represent equal parts of a whole or a group.

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This pizza is divided into fourths.

Each fourth of the pizza has a different topping.

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The important thing about fractions is they represent equal parts of a whole or a group.

But the important thing about fractions is they represent equal parts of a whole or a group.

• of the group of M&Ms is blue.

• Three-fourths of the group of M&Ms are blue.

• 3 out of 4 M&Ms are blue.

14• of the group of the group of M&Ms is red.

• One-fourth of the group of M&Ms is red.

• 1 out of 4 M&Ms are red.

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• Each fraction has a numerator• The numerator is the top number• The numerator represents the

number of equal parts you are talking about.

The important thing about fractions is they represent equal parts of a whole or a group.

But the important thing about fractions is they represent equal parts of a whole or a group.

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Numerator

This numerator tells us about 1 of the 2 equal parts. ½ of these

brownies are frosted.

½ of the M&Ms are green.

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• The smaller the numerator, the fewer parts represented

The important thing about fractions is they represent equal parts of a whole or a group.

But the important thing about fractions is they represent equal parts of a whole or a group.

• The larger the numerator the more parts represented

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Smaller numerator

Larger numerator

Less shaded green.

More shaded green.

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• Each fraction has a denominator• The denominator is the bottom

number • The denominator represents the

number of equal parts in the whole or group.

The important thing about fractions is they represent equal parts of a whole or a group.

But the important thing about fractions is they represent equal parts of a whole or a group.

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Denominator

This denominator tells us there are 2 equal parts.

These brownies have 2 equal parts.

There are 2 M&Ms in this group.

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• The smaller the denominator the

larger the parts of the whole or group

The important thing about fractions is they represent equal parts of a whole or a group.

But the important thing about fractions is they represent equal parts of a whole or a group.

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Larger denominator

• The larger the denominator the smaller the parts of the whole or group

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Smaller denominator

Smaller parts

Larger parts

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• Some fractions are equivalent, this means they are equal.

• Equivalent fractions take up the same amount of space

• Equivalent fractions have the same value, even though they are represented by different numbers.

The important thing about fractions is they represent equal parts of a whole or a group.

But the important thing about fractions is they represent equal parts of a whole or a group.

This pizza is cheese

and pepperoni or

cheese and pepperoni.

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There are 4 students

raising their hands. or

of the students are girls.

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