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Equal and Unequal Fractions

  • Grade 3
  • Mathematics
  • 3.NF.A.3
  • Number & Operations—Fractions
  • Free lesson

Aligned to 3.NF.A.3 — Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

What this lesson teaches

Two fractions can name the same amount even if they look different. When two fractions share the same bottom number, the one with the bigger top number is larger.

Worked examples

Example 1

Cut one pizza into 2 halves and another into 4 fourths. 1/2 covers the same amount as 2/4, so 1/2 = 2/4. Also 3/4 is bigger than 1/4 because 3 parts is more than 1 part.

Example 2

1/3 and 2/6 cover the same amount of a bar, so 1/3 = 2/6. Cutting the same piece into more, smaller parts does not change how much you have.

Example 3

When the tops match, the bigger bottom number means the smaller fraction: 1/8 is less than 1/3, because eighths are tinier pieces than thirds.

Practice questions

  1. Which is bigger: 2/6 or 5/6?
  2. Is 1/2 equal to 2/4? Draw a picture to check.
  3. Put in order from smallest to biggest: 3/4, 1/4, 2/4.

Watch the lesson

Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.

▶ Watch this lesson

En español

Fracciones Iguales y Desiguales

Dos fracciones pueden nombrar la misma cantidad aunque se vean diferentes. Cuando dos fracciones tienen el mismo número de abajo, la que tiene el número de arriba más grande es mayor.

Ejemplo 1: Corta una pizza en 2 mitades y otra en 4 cuartos. 1/2 cubre la misma cantidad que 2/4, así que 1/2 = 2/4. Además 3/4 es mayor que 1/4 porque 3 partes es más que 1 parte.

Ejemplo 2: 1/3 y 2/6 cubren la misma parte de una barra, así que 1/3 = 2/6. Cortar el mismo pedazo en más partes pequeñas no cambia cuánto tienes.

Ejemplo 3: Cuando los números de arriba son iguales, el de abajo más grande significa la fracción más pequeña: 1/8 es menos que 1/3, porque los octavos son pedazos más chicos que los tercios.

More Number & Operations—Fractions lessons

Understanding Fractions3.NF.A.1Fractions on a Number Line3.NF.A.2

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