Unit fractions
Partition unit fractions to create similar unit fractions
| Partitioning a unit fraction into smaller unit fractions (e.g., partitioning each fourth into thirds to create twelfths) supports student understanding of the relationship between the digit in the denominator and the size of the partition. BACKGROUND A unit fraction is the base unit of any fraction and always has a numerator of 1; for example,
1
4
1
5
1
23
3
4
Consider the fraction one and three-fourths. This number can be decomposed using a unit fraction. 
one and three fourthsseven one-fourths units One and two-fourths can be composed using a unit fraction. 
A student may say, “One whole is the same as 4 one-fourth units. I added another 2 one-fourth units to the whole to obtain 6 one-fourth units. So I can see that 6 one-fourth units is equal to one and two-fourths.
Use of unit fractions supports a deeper understanding of quantity. Notice that in the student dialogue above, early understanding of equivalency is being developed, i.e., one and one half is the same as six fourths. Counting by naming the unit fractions helps students to see the parts of the fraction when composing and decomposing. Notice that both counting unit fractions and composing and decomposing fractions are pre-cursors to addition and subtraction. For example, composing 6 one-fourth units is the same as adding 6 one-fourth units together to make one and one half. |
TASKS Under Development |
