Mathematics 8 SupportFraction Meanings

Meanings of Fractions

Meaning Example

Record the meaning here

Draw an example here

Record special notes about the meaning here

Part of a Whole

the result when the wholeor unit is partitioned into

equal-sized parts

Part of a Whole

• Sharing tasks promote developmental understanding for part of a whole.

• The parts into which the whole is divided are equal but do not need to be identical.

• Fraction parts do not have to be adjacent.

Meanings of Fractions

Part of a Whole Example

the result when the whole or unit is partitioned into equal-sized parts• Sharing tasks promote

developmental understanding for part of a whole.

• The parts into which the whole is divided are equal but do not need to be identical.

• Fraction parts do not have to be adjacent.

5 of the figure is shaded

8

Parts of a Set

the result when a group or a collection of things

is partitioned

Parts of a Set

• The members of the set do not have to be identical.

• Containing or enclosing the set helps students see the set as one unit.

Part of a Measure

involves associating marks on measuring devices, such as rulers, with fraction names

Part of a Measure

• This is the most abstract of the first three meanings but the most useful for the teaching of computational skills.

Can be Used to Name a Ratio

a comparison between two quantities that may or may not

involve different units

Can be Used to Name a Ratio

• A ratio is a numerical relationship• A fraction used to name a ratio may or

may not involve wholes, groups or the name for a point (measure). It involves making a comparison.

An Indicated Division

the symbolic form of a fraction is seen as the quotient of 2

integers with the fraction bar as a signal to divide

Can be Used as an Operator

to operate on a unit (e.g. of 12)34

Can be Used as an Operator

• A misconception that often occurs is that students think that multiplication “always makes bigger” and division “always makes smaller”.

Write about or draw to

illustrate each of the meanings.

25