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Express Whole Numbers as Fractions

Students will learn to write whole numbers as fractions (e.g., 1 = 2/2 = 3/3 = 4/4, 3 = 3/1, 6/2 = 3). They will use models and number lines to understand that any whole number can be expressed as a fraction and that fractions like 4/4 or 6/6 are equal to 1.

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Express Whole Numbers as Fractions

Grade 3 · Equivalent Fractions · question 1 of 3

0 of 12

12 rungs. A star at the top.

2 = 3.

How it is taught

0:00 of 2:59

A whole number can be written as a fraction.

8 halves make 4.

Read it: Wholes as fractions

3 whole bars, each cut into halves, make 6 halves. So 3 = 6/2.

  1. Cut each whole into the same equal pieces.
  2. Count the pieces of all the wholes: 6 halves.
  3. Write the count over the cut: 3 = 6/2.

Cutting a whole does not change how much there is.

Each whole is 2 halves, so 3 wholes are 6 halves.

A whole that is not cut is 1 piece, so 3 = 3/1.

A whole number is a fraction too: count the equal pieces of every whole.

Writing 3/6, because there are 3 bars and 6 pieces.

6/2 means 6 halves. 2 halves fill each bar, so 6/2 = 3.

5 = ___/2 — 10. Cut each of 5 wholes into 2: 5 × 2 = 10, so 5 = 10/2.

1 = 4/4

Can a whole number ever be a fraction? Let's find out together!

Here is one whole pizza, cut into four equal pieces.

If we eat one piece, that's one out of four — one fourth.

Two pieces eaten is two fourths.

Three pieces eaten is three fourths.

All four pieces eaten — that's the whole pizza!

So four fourths equals one whole. Four over four is just one.

We can see this on a number line too. Four fourths lands right on one.

It works for any number! Two halves, three thirds, six sixths — they all equal one.

Is a whole number a fraction?Let's use a pizza to see!1 whole pizza, 4 equal pieces1424344444 = 1 wholeOn the number line0114243444= 122 = 133 = 166 = 1RULEn/n = 1same top & bottom44 = 1
Grade 3 · Any whole number can be written as a fraction

Whenever the top and bottom are the same, the fraction equals one whole. Awesome work!

What you see

While they climb, your page writes one true line to ask about tonight, and a short note each Sunday.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics
Did you know?

A chessboard has 64 squares — share them out between the 8 rows and each row holds exactly 8.

Today’s goal
1 star — one skill mastered, every rung of its ladder climbed
Climbing now
Divide within 100

An example student.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics

Maya earned 2 stars this week — Interpret multiplication as equal groups, which took 6 answers over 3 days before its star landed 3 days ago and Multiply by 6, 7, 8 and 9. Next up: Divide within 100.

An example week.

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