New
New
Year 3

Compare unit fractions by looking at the denominator

I can compare unit fractions by looking at the denominator.

New
New
Year 3

Compare unit fractions by looking at the denominator

I can compare unit fractions by looking at the denominator.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. When the whole is the same, the greater the number of equal parts, the smaller each equal part is.
  2. When the whole is the same, the smaller the number of equal parts, the larger each equal part is.
  3. When comparing unit fractions, the greater the denominator, the smaller the fraction.
  4. When comparing unit fractions, the smaller the denominator, the larger the fraction.

Keywords

  • Whole - The whole is all of a group or number.

  • Part - A part is a section of the whole.

  • Denominator - A denominator is the bottom number in a fraction. It shows how many equal parts a whole has been divided into.

  • Unit fraction - A unit fraction is a fraction where the numerator is 1

Common misconception

Children often believe that the greater the denominator the bigger the fraction.

Reinforce this using the fraction wall. Constantly refer back to it and ensure that the children become experts at using it as a tool for comparison.

This is a lesson that will go smoothly with some resource preparation. Strips of different coloured paper are very useful. 12 cm is a good length for individual construction. For learning wall displays, 60 cm works because it can be divided into halves, thirds, quarters, fifths and sixths easily.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which inequality symbol goes into the gap? 3 4
Correct Answer: <
Q2.
Which inequality symbol goes into the box to show which glass is fuller?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: >
Q3.
Which inequality symbol goes into the gap? 11 + 3 10 + 5
>
Correct answer: <
Q4.
Which of the following is the definition of a denominator?
Correct answer: The number of equal parts that a whole has been divided into.
The number of selected equal parts.
A line to show that a whole has been divided into equal parts.
Q5.
What is fraction of the whole is the shaded part below?
An image in a quiz
$$ \frac{1}{2} $$
$$ \frac{1}{3} $$
Correct answer: $$ \frac{1}{4} $$
$$ \frac{1}{5} $$
Q6.
Match the fraction name to the fraction notation.
Correct Answer:$$ \frac{1}{4} $$,one-quarter

one-quarter

Correct Answer:$$ \frac{1}{5} $$,one-fifth

one-fifth

Correct Answer:$$ \frac{1}{10} $$,one-tenth

one-tenth

Correct Answer:$$ \frac{1}{11} $$,one-eleventh

one-eleventh

6 Questions

Q1.
What number does a unit fraction always have as a numerator?
Correct answer: 1
2
3
4
Q2.
Which inequality symbol goes into the box to show which glass is fuller?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: >
Q3.
Fill in the correct word from the choices below to complete this sentence: one-third is _________ than one-fifth.
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: greater
smaller
Q4.
Which inequality symbol completes this statement? $$ \frac{1}{3} $$ $$ \frac{1}{2} $$
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: <
Q5.
Which inequality symbol completes this statement? $$ \frac{1}{4} $$ $$ \frac{1}{3} $$
Correct Answer: <
Q6.
Which inequality symbol completes this statement? $$ \frac{1}{9} $$ $$ \frac{1}{11} $$
Correct Answer: >