Equivalent Fractions or Not? Activity

Author:: Irina Boyadzhiev

Topic:: Arithmetic, Fractions

This applet explores the idea of equivalent proper fractions. The top part of the screen is the reference area. Here we enter a new proper fraction and see it as a part of a unit square. The bottom part of the screen is for experimenting with the fraction.

Enter a new proper fraction.
Drag the slider to select a non-zero whole number.
Click on the "Multiply" button to multiply the numerator and the denominator by this number.
Drag the "Compare the Fractions" slider to represent the original and the new fraction on the number line.
Click the "Add" button to experiment with adding the same number to the numerator and the denominator.
Drag the "Compare the Fractions" slider to represent the original and the new fraction on the number line.

Expanding Fractions

Enter the fraction ⅔ Multiply the numerator AND the denominator by 2. We call this process Expanding of fractions.

Compare the original and the expanded fraction.
Multiply the numerator AND the denominator by 5.
Compare the original and the expanded fraction.

Repeat the steps above by choosing different fractions and multiplying the numerator AND the denominator by the same nonzero whole number.

Select all that apply

A
The original fraction is always smaller than the expanded fraction.
B
The original fraction can be bigger or smaller than the expanded fraction, depending on the number we use for expanding it.
C
The original fraction always equals the expanded fraction.
D
The original fraction is always bigger than the expanded fraction.

Check my answer (3)

Justify your answer

Adding to the numerator and the denominator

Enter the fraction ⅔

Add 2 to the numerator AND the denominator.
Compare the original and the new fraction.
Add 5 to the numerator AND the denominator.
Compare the original and the new fraction.

Repeat the steps above by choosing different fractions and adding the same nonzero whole number to the numerator AND the denominator.

Select all that apply

A
The original fraction is always smaller than the new fraction.
B
The original fraction can be bigger or smaller than the new fraction, depending on the number we are adding.
C
The original fraction always equals the new fraction.
D
The original fraction is always different from the new fraction.

Equivalent Fractions or Not? Activity

Expanding Fractions

Justify your answer

Adding to the numerator and the denominator

Justify your answer

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