We've been working on FRACTIONS in Unit 7, as well as PROBABILITY. Today we focused on ordering fractions from smallest to largest. We learned that we can easily compare fractions with LIKE numerators (numbers on the top of the fraction) and LIKE denominators (numbers on the bottom half of the fraction), but comparing fractions that have different numerators and denominators can be tricky. We explored some strategies we could use: we could make the two fractions have the same denominator by reducing or multiplying the fraction. We could also make a graph or number line to help us understand if this fraction is LESS than or GREATER than 1/2. This can help us with ordering.
We learned that PROBABILITY is the likelihood of an event happening. The fraction that tells us the probability is the "desirable outcomes" over the "total number of outcomes." For example, if we have a bag of 75 jellybeans, 16 of which are pink, the likelihood of us randomly choosing a pink out of the bag is 16/75. This event in UNLIKELY. However, if we have 48 blue jellybeans in that bag, the chances of getting a blue is VERY LIKELY...48/75. The closer the numerator is to the denominator in number (the closer you are to ONE WHOLE) the more likely the event is to happen.
We also learned that we can find EQUIVALENT FRACTIONS - multiplying the fraction by some number over some number (For example 2/2), or reducing the fraction - dividing by some number over some number (for example 4/4). So if we want to say 1/2 in another way we could say 3/6, 4/8, 50/100, etc.
It would be great if you discussed the concepts with your child at home and use practical examples as they come up (i.e, dividing a bar of chocolate and looking for and comparing fractions, or slicing oranges into fractions and comapring fractions, etc.).
No comments:
Post a Comment