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Compare Non-Equivalent Fractions

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- We'll learn how to compare fractions using benchmarks.
- That we can also compare fractions by finding common denominators.
- And we'll discover that this knowledge can help us share a snack, track the battery life on our electronics, and compete in sports!
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Discussion Questions
- Before VideoWhat does the denominator tell you in a fraction?ANSWER
How many equal-sized pieces the whole is divided into.
How many equal-sized pieces we have.
[ggfrac]4/6[/ggfrac], [ggfrac]6/9[/ggfrac], [ggfrac]8/12[/ggfrac]. I can find equivalent fractions by multiplying both the numerator and denominator in [ggfrac]2/3[/ggfrac] by any number, as long as it is the same number.
Since 6 × 4 is 24, I also need to multiply 5 by 4 to get an equivalent fraction. The equivalent fraction is [ggfrac]20/24[/ggfrac].
20 is a multiple of 5, so I can multiply the denominator, 5, by 4 to get 20. [ggfrac]2x4/5x4[/ggfrac] = [ggfrac]8/20[/ggfrac]. The fractions are equivalent.
- After VideoWhat benchmark fraction can you use to compare [ggfrac]1/3[/ggfrac] and [ggfrac]3/4[/ggfrac]? Why? ANSWER
I can use [ggfrac]1/2[/ggfrac] as a benchmark fraction. [ggfrac]1/2[/ggfrac] = [ggfrac]2/4[/ggfrac], so [ggfrac]3/4[/ggfrac] is more than [ggfrac]1/2[/ggfrac]. Since [ggfrac]1/3[/ggfrac] is less than [ggfrac]1/2[/ggfrac], we know that [ggfrac]3/4[/ggfrac] is greater than [ggfrac]1/3[/ggfrac].
[ggfrac]1/2[/ggfrac] is not very useful because both [ggfrac]4/5[/ggfrac] and [ggfrac]6/7[/ggfrac] are greater than [ggfrac]1/2[/ggfrac].
Denominators tell the size of the unit, so if I have two different denominators, it is like comparing different numbers of different-sized slices.
I can find equivalent fractions for each fraction until I find two that have the same denominator.
I could cut the slice in the first lasagna into three equal-sized pieces, and cut each of the slices in the second lasagna into two equal-sized pieces. Now each of the lasagnas can be expressed using 6 as a denominator.
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Vocabulary
- Fraction DEFINE
A number that represents a part of a whole.
- Numerator DEFINE
The top number in a fraction, which tells us how many parts have been counted.
- Denominator DEFINE
The bottom number in a fraction, which tells us how many parts are in the whole.
- Equivalent fractions DEFINE
Fractions that represent the same amount.
- Non-equivalent fractions DEFINE
Fractions that represent different amounts.
- Benchmark fraction DEFINE
A familiar fraction that we can compare other fractions to.
- Common denominator DEFINE
Having the same denominator in two fractions.
- Fraction DEFINE
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Reading Material
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Practice Word Problems
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Practice Number Problems
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Lesson Plan
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Teacher Guide