How_To_Be_Good_At_Math

44 NUMBERS •^ EQUIVALENT FRACTIONS

Equivalent fractions

The same fraction can be written in different ways – for example, half a pizza

is exactly the same amount as two quarters. We call these equivalent fractions.

Look at the second row, which

shows halves, and compare it

to the row of fourths, or quarters.

We can see that^1 / 2 takes up the

same amount of the whole as^2 / 4.

Look at this table, called

a fraction wall. It shows

different ways to divide a whole

into different unit fractions.

Now we know that^1 / 2 and

(^2) / 4 are equal and describe
the same fraction of a whole.
So, we call^1 / 2 and^2 / 4 equivalent
fractions.
To make equivalent
fractions, we
multiply or divide
the numerator and
the denominator by
the same number.
1 whole
1
3
1
3
1
3
Two quarters
takes up the same
space as one half
Follow the line
down to see
which other
fractions are the
same as one half
This line helps us to
see the amount of
the whole taken up
by one half (^1 / 2 )
1
2
1
2
1
6
1
6
1
6
1
6
1
6
1
6
1
5
1
5
1
5
1
5
1
5
1
4
1
4
1
4
1
4
1
8
1
8
1
8
1
8
1
8
1
8
1
8
1
8
1
10
1
10
1
10
1
10
1
10
1
10
1
10
1
10
1
10
1
10
1
12
1
12
1
12
1
12
1
12
1
12
1
12
1
12
1
12
1
12
1
12
1
12
044_045_Equivalent_Fractions.indd 44 29/02/2016 16:39