Ray's New Practical Arithmetic · Arts. 92–97 · Unit 10: Fractions
52. What a fraction is
Goal: Your child explains a fraction as equal parts of a unit, names the numerator and denominator, and sees a fraction as a division.
You'll need
- The book
- A slate, small whiteboard or scrap paper
- A notebook and pencil
What's in the book
How a unit is divided into equal parts, names of halves, thirds, fourths and so on, numerator and denominator, why more parts means smaller parts, and a fraction as part of several units or as a division.
The lesson, step by step
Warm-up
Cut an apple (or paper circle) into 2, then 4 equal parts. Ask: Which piece is bigger, a half or a fourth?
Equal parts
Read:
An apple may be divided equally between two boys, by cutting it into two equal parts.
A fraction is one or more equal parts of a unit.
Numerator and denominator
Read:
A fraction is expressed in figures, by writing the numerator above the denominator with a line between them.
The denominator shows into how many equal parts the unit is divided, and the numerator, how many of the parts are taken.
More parts, smaller parts
Read:
The less the number of parts into which a unit is divided, the greater the size of each part.
Lay a half, a third and a fourth of a paper strip side by side.
A fraction is a division
Read:
A fraction is an indicated division. The numerator is the dividend and the denominator is the divisor.
Act out the book's example: Two apples may be divided equally among three boys. Each gets two-thirds of an apple, which is the same as one-third of two apples.
Wrap-up
Your child writes in figures: three-fifths, seven-eighths, one-twelfth, and says which is the largest.