A fraction is what we get when we divide one thing into smaller, equal pieces. If we cut a whole pizza into 2 equal pieces we get 2 halves of pizza. = = If we joined them back together again we get 1 whole pizza. As pizzas can be quite messy, get a large piece of paper and, using a plate, draw round it to get a circle then cut it out. Colour it in to make a pizza of your choice! Fold the circle in half to make 2 halves. If you fold it in half again you will get 4 quarters. How many 'slices' will you have if you fold it in halfagain? Have you noticed a number pattern? If you were to fold it again (quite difficult now!) how many slices do you think you would have?So much for circles...what about rectangl es? Use a piece of A4 paper to try the same experiment. Although the shapes are different are the number patterns the same? How far could you take the number pattern? Try some different rectangles then have a go with a parallelogram or a rhombus. What do you notice about some
Transcript
8/3/2019 A Fraction is What We Get When We Divide One Thing Into Smaller
A fraction is what we get when we divide one thing into smaller, equal pieces.
If we cut a whole pizza into 2 equal pieces we get 2 halves of pizza.
= =
If we joined them back together again we get 1 whole pizza.
As pizzas can be quite messy, get a large piece of paper and,using a plate, draw round it to get a circle then cut it out.Colour it in to make a pizza of your choice! Fold the circle inhalf to make 2 halves. If you fold it in half again you will get 4quarters. How many 'slices' will you have if you fold it in half again? Have you noticed a number pattern? If you were to foldit again (quite difficult now!) how many slices do you think youwould have?
So much for circles...what about rectangles? Use a piece of A4paper to try the same experiment. Although the shapes aredifferent are the number patterns the same? How far could youtake the number pattern?
Try some different rectangles then have a go with aparallelogram or a rhombus. What do you notice about some
8/3/2019 A Fraction is What We Get When We Divide One Thing Into Smaller
of these shapes when you try to fold them into equalfractions?
This next one is a bit more tricky. How about a triangle? Cutout a large triangle and try folding it to make different fractions
but remember, all the shapes you make must be exactly thesame! It can be done but you have to think carefully aboutwhere you make the folds!
Try experimenting with different sorts of triangles (right-angled, isosceles, equilateral etc.). Some triangles are easier than others, why do you think that is?
If you managed to master circles, rectangles and triangles, seeif you can do the same with other shapes. Again, some shapeswill be easier than others. There is a reason for this, can youfind out the answer?
A fraction is made up of 2 numbers. The top number is calledthe NUMERATOR and the bottom number is called the
DENOMINATOR. In the fraction the 3 is the numerator
and the 4 is the denominator.
DENOMINATORThis number shows how many equal 'pieces' something has
been divided into. In the fraction, the denominator is 4which means there are 4 equal pieces that make up thewhole.
NUMERATORThis shows how many of those pieces there are. In the
fraction there are 3 out of the total of 4 pieces.
8/3/2019 A Fraction is What We Get When We Divide One Thing Into Smaller
Example:If we cut a pizza into 4 equal slices there will still be 4 pieces
on the plate. This will make a fraction of (or 1 whole).
But if we eat one of the pieces 1 out of the 4 pieces is now
missing ( ) and there will be 3 of the 4 original pieces left ( ).
The denominator has stayed the same (4) because the pizza
was split into 4 pieces and that hasn't changed but thenumerator has changed from 4 when we first cut the pizza to3 after we had eaten one of the slices.
