Problem Solving with Fractions
Problem Solving with Fractions Choose any four numbers.
Create all the possible fractions you can with those 4 numbers.
Arrange the fractions in some form of table.
Do you notice any patterns in the table?
Order the fractions on a number line.
Adapted from: Banwell, C., Saunde, K., Saunders, K., & Tahta, D. (1986). Starting points: JSTOR.
1
Consider the four numbers 1, 2, 4, 8. Create another table with these fractions.
How many different fractions can you make? How many equivalent fractions? How many fractions are greater than 1? How many are less than 1? How many are equal to 1? Which pairs of fractions have a product equal to one? How many pairs of fractions are like this?
How many fractions can you make using ‘n’ numbers?
Assuming that no fractions are the same, except those equal to 1, how many different fractions will you have for ‘n’ numbers?
Depending on which four numbers are chosen in the first instance the number of different fractions for any four numbers will be 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, or 1. When you read this list, what questions are raised in your mind?
Can you come up with examples for the numbers that confuse.
Is it possible to decide the number of different fractions for any ‘n’ numbers?
2
Create all the possible fractions you can with those 4 numbers.
Arrange the fractions in some form of table.
Do you notice any patterns in the table?
Order the fractions on a number line.
Adapted from: Banwell, C., Saunde, K., Saunders, K., & Tahta, D. (1986). Starting points: JSTOR.
1
Consider the four numbers 1, 2, 4, 8. Create another table with these fractions.
How many different fractions can you make? How many equivalent fractions? How many fractions are greater than 1? How many are less than 1? How many are equal to 1? Which pairs of fractions have a product equal to one? How many pairs of fractions are like this?
How many fractions can you make using ‘n’ numbers?
Assuming that no fractions are the same, except those equal to 1, how many different fractions will you have for ‘n’ numbers?
Depending on which four numbers are chosen in the first instance the number of different fractions for any four numbers will be 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, or 1. When you read this list, what questions are raised in your mind?
Can you come up with examples for the numbers that confuse.
Is it possible to decide the number of different fractions for any ‘n’ numbers?
2
