Transforming lives through learning

Scottish Survey of Literacy & Numeracy

Support Material

Second Level - FractionsClassroom version

Produced by Education Scotland

Transforming lives through learning

16

X

3

1616161616

Finding a fraction of an amount

StrategiesStrategy 1 Step 1:

StrategiesStep 2

Split the pizza into 5 equal parts: Now share 5400 equally between the 5 slices – 1080 on each slice.

Strategies

StrategiesRemove one fifth to leave four fifths:

Add 1080 + 1080 + 1080 + 1080 to find the answer.

• Is one of the two strategies easier?• Might one strategy be better in one situation and the other for a

different problem?

Finding a fraction of an amount

Strategy

400g

Whole Amount

200g 200g

100g

100g 100g

100g

50g

50g50g

50g 50g 50g

50g50g

2 Halves 4 Quarters 8 Eighths

Strategies

Splitting into convenient groups of 4 Counting and shading 1,2,3 and

leaving the 4th un-shaded.

Strategies

Consider though not only shading 3 out of every 4 circles, but also consider shading 3 out of 4 rows

Simplifying fractionsSuppose we want to simplify the fraction

Draw two identical rectangles.Split one into 8 equal parts and the other into 4 equal parts.Shade the same area in each:

8

2

What fraction of the first rectangle is shaded?

What fraction of the second rectangle is shaded?

4

1

8

2

Comparing fractions

Comparing fractionsWould laying the two rectangles over one another help?

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