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.
New York State Learning Standards learning standard: NY-5.NF.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 New York
In the New York State Learning Standards, 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
Write a fraction equivalent to 3/4 that has a denominator of 16.
answer box
12/16
Hint: What do you multiply 4 by to get 16? Multiply the numerator by the same number.
Question 2
Put these fractions in order from least to greatest.
- 1/5
- 9/10
- 1/10
- 4/10
1/10 → 1/5 → 4/10 → 9/10
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
A garden has 24 plants. 7/8 of them are tomato plants. How many tomato plants are there?
answer box
21
Hint: Write 7/8 as an equivalent fraction with a denominator of 24. Its numerator is the answer.
Question 4
Which fraction is NOT equivalent to 1/6?
- 4/9
- 4/24
- 5/30
- 2/12
4/9
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 5
What fraction is shaded? (Any equivalent fraction is correct.)
answer box
6/16
Hint: The numerator is the number of shaded parts. The denominator is the number of equal parts in the whole shape.
Question 6
Is 1/9 closest to 0, 1/2 or 1?
- 0
- 1/2
- 1
0
Hint: Half of 9 is 4.5. Compare the numerator 1 with that: much smaller is near 0, about the same is near 1/2, and close to 9 is near 1.