5th grade · Math · Unit 4 of 14
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.
Arizona Academic Standards learning standard: 5.NF.A.1 · 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 Arizona
In the Arizona Academic Standards, this is unit 4 of 14 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.
Source: Arizona Department of Education
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?
- 2/6
- 2/7
- 5/10
- 6/11
6/11
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
Put these fractions in order from least to greatest.
- 1/6
- 1/2
- 5/6
- 4/6
1/6 → 1/2 → 4/6 → 5/6
Hint: Compare with benchmarks (0, 1/2, 1), or rename the fractions with a common denominator. When numerators match, the greater denominator means smaller pieces.
Question 3
Is 1/8 closest to 0, 1/2 or 1?
- 0
- 1/2
- 1
0
Hint: Half of 8 is 4. Compare the numerator 1 with that: much smaller is near 0, about the same is near 1/2, and close to 8 is near 1.
Question 4
What fraction is shaded? (Any equivalent fraction is correct.)
answer box
6/10
Hint: The numerator is the number of shaded parts. The denominator is the number of equal parts in the whole shape.
Question 5
Which fraction is NOT equivalent to 2/3?
- 8/12
- 10/15
- 4/5
- 4/6
4/5
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
What number goes in the box to make the fractions equivalent?
2/5 = /20
answer box
8
Hint: What was 5 multiplied by to get 20? Multiply the numerator by the same number.