Notes: Identifying Equivalent Fractions
Equivalent fractions are fractions that have the same value or represent the same part of an object. If a
pie is cut into two pieces, each piece is also one-half of the pie. If a pie is cut into 4 pieces, then two
pieces represent the same amount of pie that 1/2 did. We say that 1/2 is equivalent to 2/4.
Fractions are determined to be equivalent by multiplying the numerator and denominator of one
fraction by the same number. This number should be such that the numerators will be equal after the
multiplication. For example if we compare 1/2 and 2/4, we would multiply 1/2 by 2/2 which would result
in 2/4 so they are equivalent.
To compare 1/2 and 3/7 we would multiply 1/2 by 3/3 to produce 3/6. Since 3/6 is not the same as 3/7,
the fractions are not equivalent.
Fraction
Equivalent Fractions
1/2
1/3
1/4
1/5
2/4, 3/6, 4/8, 5/10, 6/12 ...
2/6, 3/9, 4/12, 5/15, ...
2/8, 3/12, 4/16, 5/20, ...
2/10, 3/15, 4/20, 5/25, ...