Ordering Fractions

Students learned how to use same denominator and same numerator to compare and order fractions. If a fraction has the same denominators, just look at the numerator. The smaller the numerator, the smaller the fraction. If a fraction has the same numerators, just look at the denominators, the smaller the denominator the bigger the fraction. Students also learned how to find equivalent fractions with common denominators to compare and order fractions more easily. We watched the following video to help better understand how to order fractions:

Equivalent Fractions, Simplifying/Reducing Fractions & Converting Fractions

Equivalent Fractions

Students learned how to generate equivalent fractions. In order to make equivalent fractions you can multiply or divide the numerator and denominator by the same number.

Example:

Another method students learned to determine if fractions were equivalent is the butterfly method. Using the butterfly method, you could cross multiply and if the two products were equal, the fractions are equivalent.



Simplifying or Reducing Fractions

Students learned how to simplify or reduce fractions. When we simplify or reduce a fraction we use division to make the fraction smaller. When reducing fractions, students had to make sure that the numerator and the denominator was divided by a common factor.

Simplest form --- the smallest number a fraction can be reduced to. In order to find the simplest form of a fraction, you have to find the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) then divide both numerator and denominator by the GCF.

Converting Fractions

Students learned 2 methods to convert fractions --- TX method and division.

In order to convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions, you would use the TX method. First, multiply the whole number with the denominator. If you have 4 wholes that are split into 4 equal parts (fourths) then you'd have 16 fourths. Then add the numerator... 16 + 3 = 19. You now have 19 fourths. We keep the same denominator so the improper fraction is 19/4.

In order to convert Improper Fractions to Mixed Numbers, you would use division. If I had 19/4 and I wanted to change that into a Mixed Number I would divide my numerator (top #) by my denominator (bottom #). 19 divided by 4 equals 4 with a remainder of 3. The 4 is my whole number and the remainder is the numerator of my fractions. We keep the same denominator so my mixed number is 4 and 3/4.

Fractions can be very difficult to master because there are so many aspects to it. Please continue to work with your child at home to ensure that he/she is comprehending the material. Thank you! --- Ms. Cao