Identify when unit fractions cannot be compared

I can identify when unit fractions cannot be compared.

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Year 3

Identify when unit fractions cannot be compared

I can identify when unit fractions cannot be compared.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

If the whole is not the same, the fractions cannot be compared.
If the parts of the whole are not equal, the fractions cannot be compared.
Equal parts may not look the same.

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 parts a whole has been divided into.
Unit fraction - A unit fraction is a fraction where the numerator is 1

Common misconception

Children might want to use inequality symbols between representations showing different wholes.

Explain that inequalities can only be used when the whole is the same. Provide them with examples they may be familiar with such as offering half of a large and small apple and identifying that these are not the same because the wholes differ.

Whilst this is a relatively small teaching point, it's crucial that the children grasp this concept. This is a small but significant step in understanding the difference between comparing fractions of quantities (fraction as an operator) and comparing the actual values of different fractions.

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).