CurriculumGrade 3Mathematics

Equal and Unequal Fractions

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 example

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.

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.

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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: 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.

More Number & Operations—Fractions lessons

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

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