5th grade · Math · Unit 4 of 12
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.
Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 5.3.5.5; 5.3.5.11 · equivalent fractions, and adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators
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 Minnesota
In the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, this is unit 4 of 12 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
Write a fraction equivalent to 1/5 that has a denominator of 25.
answer box
5/25
Hint: What do you multiply 5 by to get 25? Multiply the numerator by the same number.
Question 2
Which fraction is greater than 1/2?
- 1/6
- 2/9
- 6/10
- 4/8
6/10
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 3
Which fraction is NOT equivalent to 2/3?
- 4/6
- 8/12
- 10/15
- 3/4
3/4
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 4
What number goes in the box to make the fractions equivalent?
2/6 = /3
answer box
1
Hint: What was 6 divided by to get 3? Divide the numerator by the same number.
Question 5
Noah has 20 trading cards. 9/10 of them are hockey cards. How many hockey cards does Noah have?
answer box
18
Hint: Write 9/10 as an equivalent fraction with a denominator of 20. Its numerator is the answer.
Question 6
Put these fractions in order from least to greatest.
- 1/12
- 3/6
- 1/6
- 1/3
1/12 → 1/6 → 1/3 → 3/6
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.