Making Sense of Fractions:
Laying the Foundation for Success in Algebra
NCTM-Salt Lake City, Utah, April 2008
Nadine Bezuk ([email protected])
Steve Klass ([email protected])
Strategies for ordering and comparing fractions
5
3 6
, , same denominator
7 7 7
4
10
, 4
37
1
also
4
9
, , 4
4
,
same numerator
8
,
8
2 15 10
8
15
, 1
Fractions close to a benchmark can be compared
2
by finding their distance from the benchmark.
99
6 15
, , 100 7 16
Fractions close to one can be compared
by finding their distance from one.
Fraction numberline activity
Set 1 :
Set 2 :
1
7
3
, , 1
2 3
4
, 1
2
3
Set 6 :
1
2
x , x
2
, 1
2x
(where x ≠0)
Slides available:
http://pdc.sdsu.edu/
Set 3 :
8
4 15
, , 15 9 29
Set 4 :
Set 5 :
1
x , 2 x , − x
5 15
, , 8 6 16
Set 7 :
Set 8 :
x + 2 , x - 2 , 1- x
1
x
, 2
x
, 3
x
(where x ≠0)
©2008 Professional Development Collaborative