5th grade · Math · Unit 4 of 15
Equivalent Fractions
Same amount, different fraction
What your child practices
Making and recognizing equivalent fractions (2/3 = 8/12), simplifying, comparing and ordering fractions, and judging whether a fraction is close to 0, 1/2 or 1.
Alabama Course of Study content standard: 5.10 · using equivalent fractions to add and subtract fractions
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- Equivalent fractions name the same amount.
- Multiply the top and bottom by the same number to make one.
- Divide the top and bottom by the same number to simplify.
Example: Write a fraction equivalent to 2/3 with a denominator of 12. 3 × 4 = 12, so multiply the top by 4 too. 2 × 4 = 8. Answer: 8/12
Equivalent Fractions in Alabama
In the Alabama Course of Study, this is unit 4 of 15 in 5th grade Math, after Divide and before Decimals.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Which fraction is greater than 1/2?
- 1/11
- 3/6
- 1/3
- 3/4
3/4
Hint: A fraction is greater than 1/2 when its numerator is more than half of its denominator. Exactly half means it equals 1/2.
Question 2
What fraction is shaded? (Any equivalent fraction is correct.)
answer box
21/24
Hint: The numerator is the number of shaded parts. The denominator is the number of equal parts in the whole shape.
Question 3
Write a fraction equivalent to 3/4 that has a denominator of 8.
answer box
6/8
Hint: What do you multiply 4 by to get 8? Multiply the numerator by the same number.
Question 4
Is 4/7 closest to 0, 1/2 or 1?
- 0
- 1/2
- 1
1/2
Hint: Half of 7 is 3.5. Compare the numerator 4 with that: much smaller is near 0, about the same is near 1/2, and close to 7 is near 1.
Question 5
Which fraction is NOT equivalent to 2/3?
- 10/15
- 4/6
- 5/6
- 6/9
5/6
Hint: For each fraction, check: were the numerator and denominator both multiplied by the same number? Adding the same number to both does not keep a fraction equivalent.
Question 6
A class has 40 students. 7/10 of them walk to school. How many students walk?
answer box
28
Hint: Write 7/10 as an equivalent fraction with a denominator of 40. Its numerator is the answer.