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Equivalent fractions (age 8+)

PROCEDURAL
MathematicsFractions|Ages 8—9|ID: mt_FP-mjXaq3B

Generate simple equivalent fractions and explain why they are equivalent using visual fraction models

Mastery Evidence

  • Given 1/3, generate 2/6 as equivalent and show with area model
  • Simplify 4/8 to 1/2 and justify with a fraction strip
  • Complete equivalence chains: 1/4 = ?/8 = ?/12

Assessment Prompt

“If [child] is shown a fraction bar split into 3 parts with 1 shaded (= 1/3), can they draw an equivalent bar with 6 parts that shows exactly the same amount shaded?”

Prerequisites1

Show full prerequisite tree
  • Equivalent fractions on a number line hard

    Must understand equivalence before generating equivalent fractions

    • Equivalent fractions hard

      Diagram-based equivalent fractions is prerequisite to formal equivalence understanding

      • Fractions on a number line soft

        Number line supports seeing equivalent fractions as the same point

        • Fractions of amounts hard

          Placing fractions on number line requires knowing what fractions are

          • Finding halves and quarters (age 5+) hard

            Working with 1/4, 2/4, 3/4 extends from Y1 understanding of quarters

            • What Is a Half? hard

              Understanding quarters extends from understanding halves — both are equal parts but quarters requires dividing into 4

              • Division as equal sharing hard

                Finding a half requires equal sharing into 2 groups — a division concept

                • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

                  Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

                  • How Many in Total? hard

                    Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

                    • One-to-one counting hard

                      Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

          • What Is a Half? hard

            Working with fractions extends from Y1 understanding of halves

            • Division as equal sharing hard

              Finding a half requires equal sharing into 2 groups — a division concept

              • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

                Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

                • How Many in Total? hard

                  Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

                  • One-to-one counting hard

                    Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

          • Division as equal sharing soft

            Finding fractions of quantities uses equal sharing (division)

            • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

              Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

              • How Many in Total? hard

                Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

                • One-to-one counting hard

                  Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

          • Fraction Notation hard

            Writing fractions like 1/3 and 3/4 requires knowing numerator and denominator

        • Tenths soft

          Counting in tenths supports placing fractions on a number line

          • Fractions of amounts hard

            Tenths extend fraction understanding from halves, thirds, quarters

            • Finding halves and quarters (age 5+) hard

              Working with 1/4, 2/4, 3/4 extends from Y1 understanding of quarters

              • What Is a Half? hard

                Understanding quarters extends from understanding halves — both are equal parts but quarters requires dividing into 4

                • Division as equal sharing hard

                  Finding a half requires equal sharing into 2 groups — a division concept

                  • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

                    Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

                    • How Many in Total? hard

                      Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

                      • One-to-one counting hard

                        Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

            • What Is a Half? hard

              Working with fractions extends from Y1 understanding of halves

              • Division as equal sharing hard

                Finding a half requires equal sharing into 2 groups — a division concept

                • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

                  Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

                  • How Many in Total? hard

                    Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

                    • One-to-one counting hard

                      Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

            • Division as equal sharing soft

              Finding fractions of quantities uses equal sharing (division)

              • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

                Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

                • How Many in Total? hard

                  Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

                  • One-to-one counting hard

                    Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

            • Fraction Notation hard

              Writing fractions like 1/3 and 3/4 requires knowing numerator and denominator

          • Counting in 2s soft

            Skip counting supports counting in tenths

      • Understanding fractions hard

        Extends equivalence of 2/4 and 1/2 to broader equivalent fractions

        • Reading +, −, and = symbols soft

          Writing fraction sentences (1/2 of 6 = 3) requires understanding the = sign

          • Reading and writing numbers to 20 hard

            Writing number sentences requires reading and writing numerals

            • How Many in Total? hard

              Reading/writing numerals 0–20 requires understanding that numerals represent quantities (cardinality)

              • One-to-one counting hard

                Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

            • Writing digits 0-9 hard

              Writing numerals requires the motor skill of forming digits 0-9 (taught in English handwriting)

          • Addition as combining or putting together two hard

            Reading/writing the + symbol requires understanding what addition means

            • How Many in Total? hard

              Understanding addition as combining groups requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

              • One-to-one counting hard

                Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

          • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

            Reading/writing the − symbol requires understanding what subtraction means

            • How Many in Total? hard

              Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

              • One-to-one counting hard

                Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

        • Fractions of amounts hard

          Writing fractions and recognising equivalence requires knowing what the fractions mean

          • Finding halves and quarters (age 5+) hard

            Working with 1/4, 2/4, 3/4 extends from Y1 understanding of quarters

            • What Is a Half? hard

              Understanding quarters extends from understanding halves — both are equal parts but quarters requires dividing into 4

              • Division as equal sharing hard

                Finding a half requires equal sharing into 2 groups — a division concept

                • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

                  Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

                  • How Many in Total? hard

                    Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

                    • One-to-one counting hard

                      Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

          • What Is a Half? hard

            Working with fractions extends from Y1 understanding of halves

            • Division as equal sharing hard

              Finding a half requires equal sharing into 2 groups — a division concept

              • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

                Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

                • How Many in Total? hard

                  Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

                  • One-to-one counting hard

                    Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

          • Division as equal sharing soft

            Finding fractions of quantities uses equal sharing (division)

            • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

              Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

              • How Many in Total? hard

                Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

                • One-to-one counting hard

                  Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

          • Fraction Notation hard

            Writing fractions like 1/3 and 3/4 requires knowing numerator and denominator

        • Fraction Notation hard

          Writing fractions and recognising equivalence requires 'equivalent fraction' vocabulary

      • Fraction Notation hard

        Recognising and showing equivalent fractions requires that vocabulary

    • Fractions of a whole hard

      Must understand unit fractions to reason about equivalence

      • Fractions of amounts hard

        Recognising fractions of shapes/quantities is prerequisite to formal unit fraction understanding

        • Finding halves and quarters (age 5+) hard

          Working with 1/4, 2/4, 3/4 extends from Y1 understanding of quarters

          • What Is a Half? hard

            Understanding quarters extends from understanding halves — both are equal parts but quarters requires dividing into 4

            • Division as equal sharing hard

              Finding a half requires equal sharing into 2 groups — a division concept

              • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

                Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

                • How Many in Total? hard

                  Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

                  • One-to-one counting hard

                    Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

        • What Is a Half? hard

          Working with fractions extends from Y1 understanding of halves

          • Division as equal sharing hard

            Finding a half requires equal sharing into 2 groups — a division concept

            • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

              Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

              • How Many in Total? hard

                Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

                • One-to-one counting hard

                  Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

        • Division as equal sharing soft

          Finding fractions of quantities uses equal sharing (division)

          • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

            Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

            • How Many in Total? hard

              Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

              • One-to-one counting hard

                Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

        • Fraction Notation hard

          Writing fractions like 1/3 and 3/4 requires knowing numerator and denominator

      • Fraction Notation hard

        Understanding a/b as a parts of 1/b requires numerator, denominator, and unit fraction vocabulary

      • Splitting shapes into equal parts (age 7+) hard

        Partition into equal shares is prerequisite to understanding unit fractions

    • Fractions on a number line (age 8+) hard

      Equivalent fractions as the same point on a number line directly uses the fraction number-line representation

      • Fractions on a number line hard

        Prior number-line fraction experience feeds into formal unit-fraction placement

        • Fractions of amounts hard

          Placing fractions on number line requires knowing what fractions are

          • Finding halves and quarters (age 5+) hard

            Working with 1/4, 2/4, 3/4 extends from Y1 understanding of quarters

            • What Is a Half? hard

              Understanding quarters extends from understanding halves — both are equal parts but quarters requires dividing into 4

              • Division as equal sharing hard

                Finding a half requires equal sharing into 2 groups — a division concept

                • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

                  Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

                  • How Many in Total? hard

                    Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

                    • One-to-one counting hard

                      Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

          • What Is a Half? hard

            Working with fractions extends from Y1 understanding of halves

            • Division as equal sharing hard

              Finding a half requires equal sharing into 2 groups — a division concept

              • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

                Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

                • How Many in Total? hard

                  Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

                  • One-to-one counting hard

                    Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

          • Division as equal sharing soft

            Finding fractions of quantities uses equal sharing (division)

            • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

              Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

              • How Many in Total? hard

                Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

                • One-to-one counting hard

                  Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

          • Fraction Notation hard

            Writing fractions like 1/3 and 3/4 requires knowing numerator and denominator

        • Tenths soft

          Counting in tenths supports placing fractions on a number line

          • Fractions of amounts hard

            Tenths extend fraction understanding from halves, thirds, quarters

            • Finding halves and quarters (age 5+) hard

              Working with 1/4, 2/4, 3/4 extends from Y1 understanding of quarters

              • What Is a Half? hard

                Understanding quarters extends from understanding halves — both are equal parts but quarters requires dividing into 4

                • Division as equal sharing hard

                  Finding a half requires equal sharing into 2 groups — a division concept

                  • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

                    Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

                    • How Many in Total? hard

                      Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

                      • One-to-one counting hard

                        Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

            • What Is a Half? hard

              Working with fractions extends from Y1 understanding of halves

              • Division as equal sharing hard

                Finding a half requires equal sharing into 2 groups — a division concept

                • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

                  Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

                  • How Many in Total? hard

                    Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

                    • One-to-one counting hard

                      Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

            • Division as equal sharing soft

              Finding fractions of quantities uses equal sharing (division)

              • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

                Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

                • How Many in Total? hard

                  Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

                  • One-to-one counting hard

                    Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

            • Fraction Notation hard

              Writing fractions like 1/3 and 3/4 requires knowing numerator and denominator

          • Counting in 2s soft

            Skip counting supports counting in tenths

      • Fractions of a whole hard

        Must understand unit fractions before placing them on number line