Grade 5 · Math · Lesson 9

Fractions and Equivalent Fractions

A fraction names a part of a whole or a part of a group. The bottom number (the denominator) tells you how many equal parts the whole is split into. The top number (the numerator) tells you how many of those parts you are talking about. Two fractions can look different yet stand for exactly the same amount — those are called equivalent fractions.

What this lesson teaches

1Identify the numerator and denominator of a fraction and explain what each one tells you
2Build equivalent fractions by multiplying the numerator and denominator by the same non-zero number
3Simplify a fraction to its lowest terms by dividing the numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor
4Decide whether two fractions are equivalent using shaded models or cross-multiplication

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